Earthquake Engineering

 

Summary of Activities

The Seismic Group focuses on earthquake engineering problems for regions with moderate seismicity, on the seismic performance of wind-designed buildings, and seismic hazard and risk analyses.  The seismic research group is particularly active involving the investigations of 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. Three separate field excursions to affected sites have been made after the Wenchuan earthquake. The MTS shaking table within the structural laboratory is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Extensive shaking tables tests have been conducted on seismic pounding, seismic vulnerability of highrise in Hong Kong, and soil-pile-structure interaction.  Some selected activities of the group include:

 

·         Reconnaissance trips to Sichuan after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

·         Collaboration with Sichuan University and China Earthquake Administration on 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

·         Examination of reasons for some school collapses in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, and a number of talks on Wenchuan earthquake

·         Reconnaissance trip to Thailand after the 2005 Sumatra earthquake and tsunami

·         Visit Honolulu, Hilo, Pacific Tsunami Warming Center, Tsunami Museum in May 2005

·         Visit Pacific Tsunami Warming Center in May 2006

·         Field visit to sites of tsunami in Oahu Island, May 25, 2006

·         Studies on 2006 Dangan Island earthquake and seismic hazard from this area, and field excursions to Dangan Island to study faults

·         Collaboration with South China Sea Oceanographic Institute on seismic survey of fault in South China Sea

·         Organization International Conference on Advances and New Challenges in Earthquake Engineering Research, 2002

·         Seismic appraisal of buildings in Hong Kong

·         Soil amplification and topographical effects for Hong Kong

·         Surface rupture studies using fracture mechanics

·         Shaking table testing of a typical Hong Kong building of 40 storey and with the transfer plate system

·         Seismic vulnerability and fragility of highrise buildings in Hong Kong

·         Education and training for local engineers

·         Member serve as “Scientific Advisor” to the Hong Kong Observatory on earthquake issues

 

Representative Projects

  • Stochastic simulations of ground motion for 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
  • Surface rupture studies for 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
  • Numerical simulations of  tsunami hazards in Hong Kong
  • Physical modeling of edge wave effects during tsunami
  • Marine survey of fault south of Dangan Island
  • Attenuation of ground motion for Hong Kong
  • Soil amplification and topographical effects for Hong Kong
  • Seismic pounding effects between adjacent buildings
  • Soil-pile-structure interactions
  • Seismic damage and risk analysis for Hong Kong using ArcView GIS
  • Attenuation of ground motion for Hong Kong
  • Torsional responses in asymmetric structures

 

Major Facilities

  • MTS shaking table of 10 tons capacity at 1g acceleration
  • Reaction wall for pseudo-dynamic tests
  • Dynamic hollow cylinder test for soil
  • Dynamic triaxial test and bender element tests for soil
  • Accelerometers for microtremor measurements (or Nakamura method)
  • Finite element programs for earthquake analysis

Selected Publications

1.          Chau, K.T. and Wei X.X. (2001) “Pounding of structures modeled as nonlinear impacts of two oscillators”, Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 30(5): 633-651.

2.          Chau, K.T. and Yang, X. (2001) “Nonlinear soil-pile-structure interaction for structures resting on a 2×2 pile group under earthquake excitation”, Earthquake Engineering Frontiers in the New Millennium, ed. B.F. Spencer Jr and Y.X. Hu, Balkema, Lisse, 441-446.

3.          Chau, K.T., Wei, X.X., Guo, X. and Shen, C.Y. (2003) “Experimental and theoretical simulations of seismic pounding between adjacent structures”, Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 32(4)): 537-554.

4.          Chau, K.T. and Yang, X. (2005) “Nonlinear interaction of soil-pile in horizontal vibration”, Journal of Engineering Mechanics ASCE, 131(8): 847-858.

5.        Chau, K.T., Shen, C.Y. and Guo, X. (2009) “Nonlinear seismic soil-pile-structure interactions: shaking table tests and FEM analyses”, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 29: 300-310.

6.          Koo, K.K., Chau, K.T., Yang, X., Lam, S.S. and Wong, Y.L. (2003) “Soil-pile-structure interactions under SH waves”, Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 32(3): 395-415.

7.        Wang, L.X., and Chau, K.T. (2008) “Torsional Pounding Tests between Adjacent Asymmetric Tall Buildings on Shaking Table”, South China Journal of Seismology, 28(6): 36-46 (in Chinese).

8.     Wang, L.X., Chau, K.T. and Wei, X.X. (2009) “Numerical simulations of nonlinear seismic torsional pounding between two flexible towers”, Advances in Structural Engineering (in press).

9.          Wei, X.X., Wang, LX, and Chau, K.T. (2009) “Nonlinear seismic torsional pounding between an asymmetric tower and a barrier”, Earthquake Spectra (in press).

10.       Wen, Z.P., Hu, Y.X. and Chau, K.T. (2002) “Site effect on vulnerability of high-rise shear-wall-buildings under near and far field earthquakes”, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 22: 1175 – 1182.

11.     Wong, Y.L., Zhao, J.X., Chau, K.T. and Lee, C.M. (1998) “Assessment of seismicity model for Hong Kong Region”, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Transactions, 4(1): 50-62.

12.     Wong, Y.L., Zhao, J.X., Lam, E.S.S. and Chau, K.T. (1999) “Assessing seismic response of soft soil sites in Hong Kong by using microtremor records”, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Transactions, 5(3): 70-79.

13.     Wong, Y.L., Guo, X., Yuan, Y.F. and Chau, K.T. (2000) “Influence of soft sandwich layer on seismic response in Hong Kong”, Journal of Natural Disasters, 9(1): 109-116.

14.       Xu, Y.L., Ko, J.M., Chau, K.T., Lam, S.S. and Wong, Y.L. (2001) “Research of earthquake engineering in Hong Kong: Current status and future challenges”, Earthquake Engineering Frontiers in the New Millennium, ed. B.F. Spencer Jr and Y.X. Hu, Balkema, Lisse, pp. 77-99.

Contact Information of the contact person

Prof. Kam-Tim Chau
Department of Civil & Structural Engineering
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Kowloon, Hong Kong

Fax: + 852 - 2334 6389
Phone: + 852 - 2766 6015
E-mail:  cektchau@polyu.edu.hk



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