This paper reports the findings of research examining the blast resistance of bridge piers that are designed in accordance with current knowledge and specifications to ensure ductile seismic performance. Blast testing was conducted on 1/4 scale ductile RC columns, and nonductile RC columns retrofitted with steel jacketing. The seismically designed RC and steel jacketed RC columns did not exhibi...

A damage-based approach for the performance-based seismic assessment of reinforced concrete frame structures is proposed. A new methodology for structural damage assessment is developed that utilizes response information at the material level in each section fiber. The concept of the damage evolution is analyzed at the section level and the computed damage is calibrated with observed experiment...

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Spokane Mining Research Division (SMRD) have developed a modeling framework, using commercially available software, for investigating the fracture and ejection of rock into underground mine openings caused by seismic loading and the restraint of this failed rock by the ground support system. The modeling framework...

Seismic design procedures in current building provisions are based on linear and nonlinear static approaches that use capacity-demand index relationships such as the relationship between the lateral strength and the maximum lateral displacement. Previous research on the development of these relationships is based on linear-elastic ground motion acceleration response spectra, whereas the current...

A conceptual framework for the probabilistic performance-based seismic assessment of building structures that considers both model uncertainty and response sensitivity to ground motion modification is presented in this paper. A new damage model is proposed for the assessment of building performance to seismic loads. The model is derived at the material level and combined at the element, story a...

The inelastic response of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings without seismic details is investigated, presenting the results from more than 1000 nonlinear analyses. The seismic performance is investigated for two buildings, a typical building form of the 60s and a typical form of the 80s. Both structures are designed according to the old Greek codes. These building forms are typical fo...