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101-0188-00L 3 Credits MSC D-BAUG
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Seismic Design of Structures I

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Anastasios Tsiavos
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:08:31

Abstract

The following topics are covered: 1) origin and quantification of earthquake hazard; 2) seismic response of elastic and inelastic structures; 3) response history and response spectrum seismic evaluation methods; 4) basis for seismic design codes; and 5) fundamentals of seismic design of structures. These topics are discussed in framework of performance-based seismic design.

Objective

After successfully completing this course the students will be able to: 1. Explain the nature of earthquake hazard and risk. 2. Explain the seismic response of simple linear and nonlinear single- and multi-degree-of-freedom structural systems and quantify it using response time history and response spectrum approaches. 3. Apply design code provisions to size the structural elements in a lateral force resisting system of a typical frame and wall buildings.

Content

This course initiates the series of two courses on seismic design of structures at ETH. Building on the material covered in the course on Structural Dynamics and Vibration Problems, the following fundamental topics are covered in this course: 1) origin and quantification of earthquake hazard; 2) seismic response of elastic and inelastic single- and multiple-degree-of-freedom structures; 3) response history and response spectrum seismic response evaluation methods; 4) basis for seismic design codes; and 5) fundamentals of seismic design of structures. These topics are discussed in framework of performance-based seismic design.

Resources

Lecture Notes

Electronic copies of the learning material will be uploaded to ILIAS and available through myStudies. The learning material includes the lecture presentations, additional reading, and exercise problems and solutions.

Literature

1. Dynamics of Structures: Theory and Applications to Earthquake Engineering, 5th edition, Anil Chopra, Prentice Hall, 2017 2. Earthquake Engineering: From Engineering Seismology to Performance-Based Engineering, Yousef Borzorgnia and Vitelmo Bertero, Eds., CRC Press, 2004 3. Erdbebensicherung von Bauwerken, 2nd edition, Hugo Bachmann, Birkhäuser, Basel, 2002

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
session examination
Mode
written 180 minutes
Aids
Course textbooks, lecture notes, reading material, course exercises and solutions, structural design codes and design tables, dictionaries, and personal computer with general-purpose software are allowed.No structural analysis software of any kind is allowed.No communication in any form is allowed.
One mandatory 3-hour long written final session examination covering the entire course material. Continuous performance assessment through several learning tasks offered during the semester. Completion of learning tasks is not mandatory: students can earn a maximum course grade if they only sit the final examination. Learning task grades can improve the course grade by up to 0.25 grade points.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Seismic Design of Structures I
  • Tue 13:45-15:30 (HIL E 7)
2 h weekly

Offered In