ICIST Research Group 1 - Earthquake Engineering and Seismology

The Earthquake Engineering and Seismology Research Group is a research unit within ICIST which dedicates to the Thematic Areas of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology. More specifically, the research activities of the group aim at characterizing seismic risk, including the characterization of hazard and vulnerability of structures, and at studying measures to reduce the seismic vulnerability of structures.

The activities are focused in the three following major research domains:

1) seismic behaviour of structures (reinforced concrete and steel structures, old masonry constructions, precast reinforced concrete and underground structures),

2) tectonics and seismology,

and

3) preservation and maintenance and strenghtening of the architectural built heritage.

The overall goal of the group is to contribute for a better understanding of the seismic phenomena and develop studies on the research domains where its activities fit.

Examples of research topics are:

• Study of the behavior of masonry structures submitted to seismic actions;
• Seismic retrofitting of masonry structures with advanced techniques;
• Development of seismic vulnerability assessment methods;
• Development of rational criteria for seismic vulnerability of old masonry structures, in present configuration and of methodologies to strengthen buildings, including the identification of a set of suitable retrofitting techniques;
• Performance assessment of 3D irregular buildings based on Non-Linear Static Methods and with special attention to buildings structures with shear-dominated critical regions;
• Study of earthquakes using joint analyses of satellite (InSAR) and seismic data
• Investigation of long-period (surface wave and normal mode) signals in rotation data
• Development of a regional model to address site effects on a regional scale and the seismological study of Mozambique
• Development of new impact indicators (disruption index).

Members

The group has currently 13 PhD researchers, as well as several PhD and MSc students. It is mainly composed of Academic staff from the Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Georesources from Instituto Superior Técnico, the Engineering School from Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, although there are also members who are national and international researchers from other faculties and institutions.

The main group of researchers is involved in research and teaching activities in the areas of Seismic Engineering, Seismology and Maintenance and Strengthening of the Built Heritage.

Facilities

The group uses mainly the following facilities at IST:

• LERM – Laboratory of Structures and Strength of Materials
• LMC – Laboratory of Computational Mechanics
• Seismology Laboratory – Seismic Networks