The Seismic Resilience Group carries out research projects to improve the performance of civil structures and infrastructures against extreme earthquake events. The group consists of experts in the fields of constitutive modelling of reinforced concrete structures, seismic performance and fragility assessment through advanced (hybrid) simulation methods, and innovative seismic resistant and energy dissipation systems. The constitutive model of RC structural elements has been developed based on experimental data using the unique Shell Element Tester which was the world’s first of its kind. The constitutive model has contributed to RC design codes in several countries and was implemented in structural analysis software such as VecTor and Response 2000. The research group is also capable of advanced simulations to accurately replicate the behavior of structural systems under extreme loads. The simulation method, which is referred to as hybrid (experiment-analysis) simulation, can integrate substructures of structural components represented as physical specimens or numerical models. Through integration of the best representation of substructures, either experimental or numerical, the simulation methods can take advantage of unique experimental equipment and analysis software. The simulation can be carried out at a single site as well as multiple sites. In recent years, innovative self-centering energy-dissipating brace system, supplemental damping elements for high-rise buildings, cast steel yielding brace system, and steel cast connections have been actively developed and applied in real structures. These new systems can dramatically reduce the damage of structural elements from strong earthquake events.
By exploiting the unique research expertise of group members, the Seismic Resilience Group is strategically positioned to tackle more challenging and larger scale problems, such as the multi-hazard safety of nuclear power plants with realistic nonlinear models of concrete elements and soil systems, large scale landmark bridges, high-rise buildings, regional seismic impact assessments, etc, that could not previously have been investigated as comprehensively as necessary.
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Professors: Evan Bentz, Constantin Christopoulos, Michael Collins, Oh-Sung Kwon, Oya Mercan, Jeff Packer, Frank Vecchio
