One of the main objectives of geophysical seismic analysis is to determine the Earth’s structure. Usually, to determine this structure, geophysicists supplement the measurement results with additional geophysical assumptions. An important question is: when is it possible to reconstruct the Earth’s structure uniquely based on the measurement results only, without the need to use any additional a...

This paper presents a contribution for the safety assessment of historical masonry buildings under seismic loading. Three different simplified safety indexes (in-plan area ratio, area to weight ratio and base shear ratio) are analyzed, taking into account a large sample of fifty-eight Portuguese churches. The sample of building has been organized according to the seismic zonation, from high to ...

This paper discusses the experimental set-up and procedures for the seismic testing and evaluation of a sprinkler system in hospital model. Concrete compression tests are ran to ensure compliance with ACI 355.2 anchor testing qualifications. Maximum shear strength of the anchor is found to include within the piping system model. Frame and piping system within the model is tested under input mot...

The updated version for the Manual of Civil Structures (MOC), a model seismic code in Mexico, was published in 2008. MOC also is incorporating guidelines for the seismic design of base-isolated structures this year 2012, being the first Mexican code to include such recommendations. This paper summarizes the most relevant aspects of these guidelines, their relations to other guidelines worldwide...

We study the statistical properties of time distribution of seismicity in California by means of a new method of analysis, the diffusion entropy. We find that the distribution of time intervals between a large earthquake (the main shock of a given seismic sequence) and the next one does not obey Poisson statistics, as assumed by the current models. We prove that this distribution is an inverse ...

Seismic reflector interfaces in the subsurface are typically idealized as zero-order discontinuities. According to this model, the Earth’s subsurface is represented by a spiky reflection coefficient sequence for which deconvolution methods have been derived. However, multiscale analysis on sedimentary basins reveals the existence of accumulation of varying-order singularities in the subsurface....

Seismic hazard analysis of vulnerable countries on the Alpine-Himalayan belt has great importance to be considered. Recently, Iran as one of the countries located on the stated belt has experienced a few number of severe earthquakes. A wellestablished index of how earthquakes affect buildings is by assessing probable Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) which can be estimated by past events. For this...

Anisotropy parameters are obtained by anisotropic velocity analysis performed on Blackfoot P-wave reflection-seismic data, in combination with sonic-log data. First, the line was processed with ProMAX seismic data-processing software using a sequence of conventional algorithms without taking anisotropy into account, in order to choose proper analysis points and horizons with confidence. Then, a...

The influence of soil-structure interaction in the analysis and design of a 6-storey and basement reinforced concrete frame building is investigated. Models simulating two different conditions: namely soil-structure interaction, and fixed-base behavior are considered. The influence of the soil structure interaction in the dynamic behavior of the structure is reflected in an increase in the vibr...

Unreinforced Masonry infill walls (URM) are commonly used in the Reinforced Concrete (RC) framed structures as interiors and exteriors partition walls. Although they usually are not considered in the structural analysis and design, their influence on the seismic performance of the framed structures is significant. A common practice in the modern and old RC buildings is to remove the URM walls i...