| The study of earthquakes, the devastating effects on structures, and techniques to prevent and mitigate these effects have all accelerated in the preceding few decades. These investigations have garnered much attention from the media and general public, especially as devastating earthquakes continue to occur on a regular basis both domestically and abroad. Consequently, it is imperative for design engineers to understand earthquake ground motion, its potential destructive effects, and the code requirements aimed at preventing earthquake-related fatalities.;A comprehensive study of earthquake resistant design is covered in this thesis. First, a basic understanding of seismology is given to serve as a background to the type of forces and displacements that drive the design process. The measurement of earthquakes, including both qualitative and quantitative scales, is introduced along with the equipment utilized for direct measurement. The influence of soil in earthquake design is explored and engineering mitigation techniques are discussed. This is followed by basic earthquake engineering topics, including important aspects of seismic design and the basic analysis procedures used to estimate earthquake forces. As a transition between analysis procedures and actual design techniques, a brief history of seismic code development and seismic design practices is introduced. Finally, an overview of both steel and reinforced concrete seismic load resistance systems is presented, including specific requirements of the respective codes. The cost of earthquakes and their effect on a country's gross national product concludes the discussion. Supplemental material, presented in the appendices, include a derivation of elastic wave propagation, the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, a brief discussion of structural dynamics, an example of the equivalent lateral force procedure, and examples of reinforced concrete seismic design. |
