Behavior of Buildings under Seismic Sequences

In most seismic design codes, the “design earthquake” is considered a single seismic event. However, the major seismic events in the past (e.g., the 2011 Tohoku-Taiheiyo-Oki Earthquake, the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake in Japan, and the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes in Turkey) have shown that structures are subjected to a series of seismic sequences consisting of foreshocks, the mainshock, and several aftershocks, or even doublet-mainshock earthquakes. Those aftershocks often occur within hours and days after the mainshock, or the second mainshock may occur within hours after the first mainshock. Because those aftershocks may be strong enough to accelerate the damage in the structure, the consideration of seismic sequence in the response and damage evaluation is an important issue. This research topic is focused on the behavior of building structures under seismic sequences.

In this research topic, we would like to collect the following questions, for a better understanding of the behavior of buildings under seismic sequences, and also improving the seismic design schemes.

Q1: What kinds of seismic intensity parameters are needed for the proper evaluation of structural response for the case of seismic sequences?

Q2: What kinds of analysis methods are applicable for evaluating the structural response of buildings subjected to seismic sequences?

Q3: What kinds of structural response parameters are needed for the proper damage evaluation of a structure considering seismic sequences? Q4: What is the advantage of the energy-dissipating devices (dampers) and seismic isolation techniques when considering the seismic sequences? Note that the list of questions is not comprehensive.


This Research Topic welcomes novel and original contributions that focus on the behavior of buildings under seismic sequences, including (but not limited to):

• Energy-based seismic intensity parameters for seismic sequences, including the analysis of recorded seismic sequences

• Nonlinear analysis method of building structures under seismic sequences, including the application of nonlinear static analysis

• Damage evaluation method of the structural members considering the cumulative response (e.g. energy-based approach)

• Response of structures with energy-dissipating devices, seismic isolation systems, or other innovative structural systems subjected to seismic sequences

• Seismic design method of building structures considering the seismic sequences (e.g. energy-based approach)

• Experimental research of members considering seismic sequences.

Keywords: seismic sequences, building structures, energy dissipation systems, base-isolation, seismic design, damage evaluation, mainshock, aftershock, foreshock

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.