Rocking as a Seismic Isolation Technique for Modern Bridges
Event details
| Date | 19.12.2013 |
| Hour | 12:15 › 13:15 |
| Speaker | Prof. Elias Dimitrakopoulos |
| Location |
GC B331
|
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Conventional seismic (code-based) design focuses on accommodating structural deformation, during an earthquake excitation, but accepts the prize of "sustainable" damage after a major earthquake. Recently, the concept of re-centering structures, which hinge on (some degree of) rocking motion, as a means of seismic isolation is proliferating. Rocking isolation allows the (bridge) piers to uplift and pivot, as a means to relieve (isolate) the structure from deformation, stresses and hence damage. This talk outlines the discrete evolution phases of the civil engineering rocking structures (with emphasis on bridges) and highlights peculiar features of rocking dynamics. It offers a description of the rocking response which elucidates the behaviour of rocking structures under excitations of different intensity, despite the nonlinear and nonsmooth nature of the rocking dynamics. Further, the talk presents an analytical investigation of the benefits of using viscous damping to limit the rocking motion. Finally, the talk proposes a methodology to derive equivalence between the archetypal rocking block and more complicated/realistic rocking structures.
short bio: Dr. Elias Dimitrakopoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology since Fall 2011. He received his Civil Engineering diploma, Master of Science in Seismic Engineering, and Doctoral Degree, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) in Greece. In addition, he was a Post-Doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge U.K., at the Department of Engineering. Dr. Dimitrakopoulos’ research interests lie in the areas of earthquake engineering, structural dynamics and bridge engineering with emphasis on nonlinear and nonsmooth phenomena.
short bio: Dr. Elias Dimitrakopoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology since Fall 2011. He received his Civil Engineering diploma, Master of Science in Seismic Engineering, and Doctoral Degree, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) in Greece. In addition, he was a Post-Doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge U.K., at the Department of Engineering. Dr. Dimitrakopoulos’ research interests lie in the areas of earthquake engineering, structural dynamics and bridge engineering with emphasis on nonlinear and nonsmooth phenomena.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- Prof. Nikolas Geroliminis & Prof. Katrin Beyer
Contact
- Prof. Katrin Beyer