NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Current Capabilities and Future Needs in Experimental Earthquake Engineering Research.
- File
- PB298364.pdf
- Author(s)
- Matthiesen, R. B.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Engineering and Applied Science., January 1976, 5 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- UCEER-4/1
- Abstract
- The impetus behind most earthquake engineering research is the application of the research results to the reduction of earthquake hazards through engineering design. Of primary importance is an understanding of the spectral characteristics of potentially damaging ground motions in all seismically active regions. Regional differences and local variations of ground motion are important, but the level of motion is significant only if it is potentially damaging to reasonably well designed structures or systems. Lower levels of motion are important only if interpretations based on them may be extrapolated to the higher, potentially damaging levels of ground motion. From the recurrence data and the average cost of instrumentation and its maintenance ($400 per year), the costs to obtain records with peak accelerations greater than specified levels have been estimated. For peak accelerations that are potentially damaging, the results imply that, except in the three most active areas, costs of the order of $10-20,000 per record must be anticipated in most areas of California. In areas less active than California, even higher costs must be anticipated.
- Keywords
- Instruments; Earthquake resistant structures; Seismic detection; California; Cost estimates; Seismic arrays; Earth movements; Dynamic response; Ground motion; Earthquake engineering; Earthquakes