Several advances have been made in the last decades in order to increase the preparedness of communities against earthquakes. A significant step forward has been the formulation of a displacement-based approach for the design of structural systems subjected to seismic loads, replacing the force-based methodology. The displacement-based approach is currently implemented worldwide, but its inherent weaknesses motivated the scientific community to look at an energy-based strategy for the design and assessment of structural systems under earthquakes. Although, compared to forces and displacements, energy is a more difficult concept for a designer to rationalize, significant advantages of the energy-based approach are that it explicitly addresses cumulative damage and it takes in to account localized structural damage. Despite its great potential, however, there are still several open issues that prevent a reliable large-scale implementation of an energy-based approach in seismic engineering.
Even though the great potential of the energy-based approach in seismic engineering is nowadays widely acknowledged in the research community, there are still many open issues that require supplemental studies for its reliable implementation in structural analysis and design. The most important remaining challenges are:
1) the analysis and development of energy-based seismic intensities and their prediction equations;
2) the evaluation of the energy capacity of structural elements and systems;
3) the prediction of the distribution of the seismic energy input within the structure as the inelastic response progresses;
4) development of innovative structural systems based on the energy balance formulation; 5) the best way to convert energy-based principles into practical design rules.
Overall, therefore, this Research Topic aims at contributing to the development of a novel and complete scientific and technical framework for the analysis and design of structures under earthquakes based on the energy approach. An important related challenge of this topic is to address all scientific and technical issues in such a way to formulate valuable proposals for the next generation of building codes and for the seismic assessment of existing structures. This is deemed crucial to produce large-scale and long-lasting positive effects on society. In doing so, this topic is oriented to facilitate the establishment of a common understanding in energy-based seismic engineering.
Besides these scientific impacts, advances in energy-based intensity parameters, energy-based demand and capacity measures, development of innovative structural systems based on energy, can produce short/mid-term social and economic impacts through a better understanding of the seismic risk at different territorial scales. In fact, with access to more comprehensive and accurate frameworks for hazard and vulnerability assessment, policymakers, public and other stakeholders can carry out more effective risk-sensitive planning and investments before an earthquake strikes.
Several advances have been made in the last decades in order to increase the preparedness of communities against earthquakes. A significant step forward has been the formulation of a displacement-based approach for the design of structural systems subjected to seismic loads, replacing the force-based methodology. The displacement-based approach is currently implemented worldwide, but its inherent weaknesses motivated the scientific community to look at an energy-based strategy for the design and assessment of structural systems under earthquakes. Although, compared to forces and displacements, energy is a more difficult concept for a designer to rationalize, significant advantages of the energy-based approach are that it explicitly addresses cumulative damage and it takes in to account localized structural damage. Despite its great potential, however, there are still several open issues that prevent a reliable large-scale implementation of an energy-based approach in seismic engineering.
Even though the great potential of the energy-based approach in seismic engineering is nowadays widely acknowledged in the research community, there are still many open issues that require supplemental studies for its reliable implementation in structural analysis and design. The most important remaining challenges are:
1) the analysis and development of energy-based seismic intensities and their prediction equations;
2) the evaluation of the energy capacity of structural elements and systems;
3) the prediction of the distribution of the seismic energy input within the structure as the inelastic response progresses;
4) development of innovative structural systems based on the energy balance formulation; 5) the best way to convert energy-based principles into practical design rules.
Overall, therefore, this Research Topic aims at contributing to the development of a novel and complete scientific and technical framework for the analysis and design of structures under earthquakes based on the energy approach. An important related challenge of this topic is to address all scientific and technical issues in such a way to formulate valuable proposals for the next generation of building codes and for the seismic assessment of existing structures. This is deemed crucial to produce large-scale and long-lasting positive effects on society. In doing so, this topic is oriented to facilitate the establishment of a common understanding in energy-based seismic engineering.
Besides these scientific impacts, advances in energy-based intensity parameters, energy-based demand and capacity measures, development of innovative structural systems based on energy, can produce short/mid-term social and economic impacts through a better understanding of the seismic risk at different territorial scales. In fact, with access to more comprehensive and accurate frameworks for hazard and vulnerability assessment, policymakers, public and other stakeholders can carry out more effective risk-sensitive planning and investments before an earthquake strikes.