Fundamentals of Seismic Loading on Structures

This book provides a practical guide to the basic essentials of earthquake engineering with a focus on seismic loading and structural design. Benefiting from the authors extensive career in structural and earthquake engineering, dynamic analysis and lecturing, it is written from an industry perspective at a level suitable for graduate students. Fundamentals of Seismic Loading on Structures is organised into four major sections: introduction to earthquakes and related engineering problems, analysis, seismic loading, and design concepts. From a practical perspective, reviews linear and non-linear behaviour, introduces concepts of uniform hazard spectra, discusses loading provisions in design codes and examines soil-structure interaction issues, allowing the reader to quickly identify and implement information in a working environment. Discusses probabilistic methods that are widely employed in the assessment of seismic hazard, illustrating the use of Monte Carlo simulation with a number of worked examples. Summarises the latest developments in the field such as performance-based seismic engineering and advances in liquefaction research. There are many books on earthquake engineering, but few are of direct use to the practising structural designer. This one, however, offers a new perspective, putting emphasis on the practical aspects of quantifying seismic loading, and explaining the importance of geotechnical effects during a major seismic event in readily understandable terms. The author has succeeded in marrying important seismological considerations with structural engineering practice, and this long-awaited book will find ready acceptance in the profession. Professor Patrick J. Dowling CBE, DL, DSc, FIStructE, Hon MRIA, FIAE, FREng, FRS Chairman, British Association for the Advancement of Science Emeritus Professor and Retired Vice Chancellor, University of Surrey