Summary

This is a basic course in health research methods that covers the following topics: Research design and methodology; designing research studies;...

Seismic risk and the potential earthquake losses are evaluated differently by disparate industries and organisations. This course covers the fundamental...

Seismic risk and the potential earthquake losses are evaluated differently by disparate industries and organisations. This course covers the fundamental components of earthquake risk assessments, i.e. the estimation of probable earthquake ground shaking in a city, ways to assess the likely damage to different building types (vulnerability), and approaches to estimate the human casualties and economic losses arising from the building damage. The course also provides an introduction to GIS and to simplified structural analysis and seismic assessment tools, through a series of computer-based tutorials. A number of guest lectures will also be delivered by professionals from the Catastrophe Modelling, Re-Insurance and Civil Engineering industries. Aims: To provide an overview of how engineers and different agencies assess seismic risk to life, economy and buildings. Provide understanding of the technical calculation of seismic risk. Deliver an understanding of the uncertainties involved in seismic risk estimation.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the underlying principles, appreciate the limitations and be able to critically evaluate techniques for the seismic risk assessment of civil engineering structures
 Practical knowledge of probabilistic seismic hazard calculation, building vulnerability assessment and seismic loss estimation
 Knowledge of the possible consequences of a damaging earthquake in different social and economic contexts

This course reinforces knowledge in fundamental soil mechanics theory and it was developed to recognise the limitations of current frameworks used to describe...

This course reinforces knowledge in fundamental soil mechanics theory and it was developed to recognise the limitations of current frameworks used to describe natural soil behaviour, principally by analysing triaxial laboratory test data from real natural soils. Prediction of soil behaviour is introduced with the application of plasticity solutions to known geotechnical problems such as foundations and retaining walls. The course also gives information about basic constitutive soil models, as well as a brief introduction to numerical analysis. At the end of the course a seminar is given by a practicing engineer, from a consulting company, explaining the implications of soil behaviour to industry.

Learning Outcomes:

​Upon successful completion of this course, students will have learned to:Interpret data with regards to Critical State Soil Mechanics.

Predict the behaviour of soils within a recognised framework.Understand the limitations of current methods and how natural soils behave.Solve soil structure interaction problems using plasticity methods.Understand the differences between the main constitutive soil models.Understanding of what is required in order to use a Finite Element package to analyse a geotechnical problem.

Present information orally, textually and graphically.

Reading list:

Powrie, W. (1997) Soil mechanics: concepts and applications. E. &, F.N. Spon (read online)

Atkinson, J.H. (2007) The mechanics of soils and foundations 2nd edition Taylor & Francis (library)

Conference proceedings (ISSMGE) and journal papers (Gotechnique, ASCE, Soils &, Foundations, Canadian Geotechnical Journal.)