Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics

Description

The doctoral degree in Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics began to take shape in 1984, when a postgraduate programme was created with the same name. For the first time, this programme introduced at the UPC advanced studies relating to earthquakes, their impact on structures and how to reduce their effects. In 1986, under the new Doctoral Degree Law, the programme was approved by the UPC Doctoral Studies Committee. Subsequently, the programme has adapted to regulations relating to doctoral degrees, specifically Royal Decree 778/1998 and Royal Decrees 55 and 56/2005, 189/2007 and 1393/2007. Over these years, the programme has been a catalyst that has driven research and technology transfer activity in the areas of earthquake engineering and structural dynamics and has provided high-level training for numerous students, many of whom are Latin American. Some former students occupy relevant positions in the teaching, technology, research and government infrastructure in various countries.

Rationale for the programme

Most of the losses caused by earthquakes over history, in terms of lives and economic damage, have been caused by poor seismic behaviour of structures. Such behaviour could lead to partial or total collapse of structures, as well as collateral hazards, such as fires and explosions, which often increase the losses. Regulations on earthquake-resistance are improving constantly, enriched with the information obtained from new research and experiences. However, catastrophic losses continue to occur in many countries worldwide, even in those in which earthquake engineering studies are a priority. Clearly, new achievements in structure design can only be applied to new constructions, which are a very small fraction of the total number of existing structures. As the occurrence of seismic phenomena is still outside the control of science, the immediate conclusion is that methods need to be applied that reduce expected damage to existing structures to a minimum. This need has led to studies of the seismic vulnerability of structures, which should be a priority today, with a view to any plan to mitigate future disasters caused by earthquakes. Therefore, the design of new structures and the study of the relationship between vulnerability and damage in existing structures could help to reduce the economic and social costs and the loss of human lives that are caused by all earthquake catastrophes. Particular attention should be focused on the effects of dynamic loads. Consequently, knowledge of the seismic hazard and the study of the behaviour of structures subject to seismic action are vital. The doctoral programme covers an area of knowledge and a field of application in which there are few initiatives and activities in Spain and Latin America. Therefore, the contents and research areas that are offered by the programme are particularly necessary. This can be seen in the constant flow of students, particularly from Latin America, who apply to the programme.

Alignment with strategic objectives of research, development and innovation in Europe, Spain and Catalonia

The doctoral programme is classified within the Spanish National Evaluation and Prospection Agency’s (ANEP) areas of earth sciences, civil engineering and architecture, and technology transfer. In the Seventh Framework Programme, in Environment and Transport.
In the Government of Catalonia’s Research and Innovation Plan 2010-2013, in mitigation and adaptation to climate change, buildings, cities and territories to live, generate value and coexist. And within the Spanish National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research, Development and Innovation, in strategic action on energy and climate change.

The programme focuses on the assessment and management of seismic risk in built environments; knowledge and technology transfer to bodies that manage civil protection at local, regional and national scale; and the development of seismic design techniques that lead to a reduction in risk.

External references

The doctoral programme in Earthquake Engineering is a unique initiative in Spain. A large number of academics and researchers from Spanish-speaking countries have trained in this programme. The president and vice-president of the Spanish Association of Earthquake Engineering (AEIS, http://www.aeissismica.es/index.html) are lecturers on the course and many other lecturers are members of this Association. In turn, the AEIS is part of the International Association for Earthquake Engineering (IAEE; http://www.iaee.or.jp/index.html) through the European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE; http://www.eaee.boun.edu.tr/eaee.htm). The IAEE brings together the most prestigious institutions and organisations in the world in the area of earthquake engineering. Every four years, the World Conference of Earthquake Engineering is held, at which lecturers and students from the programme present the most relevant results of their research. The levels of control and the impact of papers and presentations at these conferences are comparable to those of the highest level indexed journals.

General objectives:

The general objectives of the programme are to provide high-level third-cycle specialised training in up-to-date contents, technological development and research in the fields of seismology, earthquake engineering and structural dynamics. The programme is designed to produce quality doctoral theses in the areas covered by the collaborating research groups. These include topics relating to the generation of earthquakes and the propagation and attenuation of earthquake waves, as well as the effects they have on structures and how to mitigate them.

Specific objectives:

The development and evolution of the doctoral programme towards the priorities of national, European and international research plans to serve society have led to specialisation in the prediction, assessment and management of earthquake risk, in areas characterised by their high vulnerability (areas that do not necessarily have significant seismic hazard but where the construction types are extremely vulnerable), and areas where the risk is due to the high hazard.