Seismology to Earthquake Engineering

École Polytechnique via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/seismology-to-earthquakes

Introduction

### Course Review: Seismology to Earthquake Engineering on Coursera If you're interested in delving into the world of seismology and earthquake engineering, the Coursera course titled **Seismology to Earthquake Engineering** stands out as a comprehensive and insightful resource. Designed for undergraduates, graduates, and professionals in the field, this course deftly navigates the intricate relationship between seismic activity and structural integrity. #### Course Overview This course covers a wide spectrum of topics, starting from the fundamental structure of the Earth to the complex interactions between soils, structures, and seismic waves. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in understanding how earthquakes are generated, how seismic waves travel, and the various forces at play during seismic events. The course highlights crucial areas such as rock mechanics, soil dynamics, structural dynamics, and dynamic soil-structure interaction, making it a robust option for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge in engineering seismology. #### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Introduction** The course begins with an overview that sets the stage for the topics to come, making it essential for all learners to grasp the fundamental principles of seismology. 2. **Week 1 - Seismicity and Faults** The journey kicks off with an exploration of Earth’s structure and the dynamics of tectonic plates. You'll delve into how faults behave and generate seismic waves, with discussions not just focused on Earth but extending to Mars. This week is pivotal as it lays the groundwork for understanding seismicity. 3. **Week 2 - Seismic Waves and Ground Motion** This week dives into the different types of seismic waves—both theoretical and observational perspectives are explored to illustrate wave propagation and amplification across varying geological structures. Site characterization is also addressed, allowing students to apply their knowledge practically. 4. **Week 3 - Seismic Response of Soil and Structures** Here, the focus is on analyzing the seismic response of soil and structures. You'll learn about response spectra, eigenmodes, and modal superposition, crucial for implementing seismic design principles. The concepts of seismic isolation and in situ dynamic characterizations are practical applications that provide real-world insights. 5. **Week 4 - Complex Structures and Non-linearities** This week tackles dynamic interactions and non-linear behaviors, presenting advanced topics like Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) and deeper analysis techniques like push-over and time history methods. This segment is particularly beneficial for those looking to understand complex interactions during seismic events. 6. **Week 5 - Seismic Risk** The final week addresses the consequences of seismic activities by evaluating vulnerability and damage assessments. This includes practical case studies involving both masonry and concrete structures. Discussions on fragility curves and catastrophe models culminate in a holistic view of seismic risk and assessment, essential for future engineers and researchers in the field. #### Recommendation I highly recommend the **Seismology to Earthquake Engineering** course on Coursera. It is meticulously structured, providing a rich theoretical foundation while also addressing practical applications of the concepts. The diverse range of topics ensures that learners gain a 360-degree understanding of the field, making it invaluable for anyone interested in civil engineering, geology, or related careers. The course is suitable not only for students but also for practicing professionals seeking to stay updated with the latest in seismic research and engineering practices. With engaging content, expert instruction, and a progression from basic to complex topics, this course empowers you to make informed decisions in your professional endeavors, especially in regions prone to earthquakes. Whether you're pursuing a career in earthquake engineering, involved in infrastructure development, or simply fascinated by Earth sciences, enrolling in this course will be a fruitful investment in your education and professional growth. Don't miss out on the opportunity to expand your understanding of one of nature’s most powerful forces!

Syllabus

Introduction

Week 1 - Seismicity and faults

The first week allows to discover the Earth structure, the plate tectonics, the behaviour of faults in the crust and the radiation of seismic waves. The seismicity of the Earth is studied and that of Mars is shown as well! The control of faults and the magnetic properties of the Earth are finally explained.

Week 2 - Seismic waves and ground motion

Various types of seismic waves are presented through both actual observations and theoretical interpretation. Their propagation and amplification in heterogeneous geological structures are discussed (soil layers, alluvial basins). The application to site characterization is finally proposed.

Week 3 - Seismic response of soil and structures

The seismic soil response is analyzed first. The simplified soil response is then converted into a so-called response spectrum for sake of seismic design. The seismic response of structures is discussed through eigenmodes, modal superposition and modal recombination. Seismic isolation and in situ dynamic characterization of structures is also presented.

Week 4 - Complex structures and non linearities

Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction and Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction are presented first. Typical nonlinear behaviours of structures are then analyzed. The seismic response of structures is finally discussed through simplified (e.g. push-over) and time history nonlinear analyses.

Week 5 - Seismic risk

Vulnerability and damage assessment are introduced first. They are illustrated for masonry structures in the field and concrete structures on shaking tables. The effect of uncertainties is then discussed in order to derive fragility curves. Finally catastrophe and loss models are explained.