Activities of the Centre
- Visit by Dr. Sashi K. Kunnath from the
University of California, Davis, USA (August 2003)
- CPD Short Course on Introduction to
Seismic Design (July 2003)
- Visit by Prof. C.J. Baker from University of Birmingham, UK (July 2003)
- Visit by Prof. Chris Letchford from Texas Tech University, USA (January 2003)
- Visit by Prof. Y.P. Wang from
Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan (January 2003)
- Visit by Prof. Li from Tongji University, China (November 2002)
- Visit by Mr Ru, Program Director
of NSFC, China (November 2002)
- Visit by Professors Ye
and Huang from Shanghai Astronomical Observator (October 2002)
- Visit by Dr. Man-Chung Tang from T.Y. International (October 2002)
- Visit by Professor Chen Yong from the China Seismological Bureau (September 2002)
- International Conference on Advances and New Challenges in Earthquake Engineering Research (ICANCEER) (August 2002)
- Visit by the Director of the Chinese Seismological Bureau (May 2002)
Visit by Dr. Sashi K. Kunnath from the University of
California, Davis, USA (August 2003)
Dr. Sashi K. Kunnath is an Associate Professor of Structural
Engineering and Structural Mechanics at the University of California at
Davis. He received his Bachelor's degree from Bangalore University,
India and his Master's degree from the Asian Institute of Technology.
His PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo was on the
subject of nonlinear computational modeling of structures subjected to
seismic loads. He has published widely on topics ranging from
analytical modeling and seismic behavior of structures, low-cycle
fatigue, model-based simulation, seismic damage assessment and
performance-based seismic design. He was the recipient of the
2001 American Concrete Institute Structural Research Award for his
research on cumulative seismic damage modeling. Dr. Kunnath is
the primary author of the original IDARC series of computer programs
for seismic analysis of RC structures. He is Chair of the ASCE
Committee on Seismic Effects and is Editor of the ASCE Journal of
Structural Engineering.Dr. Kunnath visited our research centre from 30 August to 1 September 2003. During his short visit he held discussions with Prof. J.G. Teng and Dr L. Lam and gave an open seminar on the topic of "Recent Advances in Performance-Based Seismic Design of Buildings". He also met Prof. S.L. Chan and Prof. Y.L.Xu.
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ATC-40:
Performance Assessment at System Level |
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CPD Short Course on Introduction to Seismic Design (July 2003)
This half-day
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) short course was organized by
American Society of Civil Engineers – Hong Kong Section and sponsored
by our
Research Centre. It was prepared for engineers who desire an elementary
treatment of the practical considerations of design and construction
for the
effects of earthquakes on structures.
Prof A Chandler,
from the
A total of 110
practicing engineers and students attended the short course. The purpose of the course is well served in
the sense of providing participants more information on seismic design
of
building structures.
The Course
Coordinators are Dr P.C. Cheung from Architectural Services Department
of HKSAR
and Dr M.R. Yeung from the
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| Lecture delivered by Prof. Y L Xu | Shake table test demonstrated by Dr Y L Wong |
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Visit by Prof. C.J. Baker from University of Birmingham, UK (July 2003)
Prof. C.J. Baker, from University of Birmingham, visited our Research Center between 9 July and 11 July 2003. He is Head of Civil Engineering and Head of Engineering Programmes within the University, the vice chairman of COST Action C14, European and African Regional Representative on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Wind Engineering, and a member of the ISO code committee that is revising the ISO wind loading code.In recent years it has come to be realized that both road and rail transportation systems can be adversely affected by high winds. Prof. Baker gave a seminar named “Wind and Vehicles” in the afternoon of 10 July. Prof. Baker’s presentation began by giving some historical background to the key issues, which drew upon the experience of the author over the last 20 years. The following fundamental aspects of the problem were covered in turn:
• Methods of calculating accident risk and susceptibility.
• The determination of the wind induced forces and moments on road and rail vehicles.
• The specification of wind characteristics and probabilities during storms very close to ground level.
• Methods of alleviating the problem – such as wind fences, traffic speed and movement restrictions etc.
This seminar did not only draw the attendance of research personnel at PolyU, but also engineers from Transportation and Highways Department. Prof. Baker also participated in a discussion session with research personnel at PolyU to discuss issues on wind effects on road vehicles/railway trains running on the ground/ long span bridges in the morning of 10 July.
During his visit, Prof Baker met with Prof. Y.S.Li to exchange viewpoint on possible collaborative teaching and research programs between two Departments in the near future. He also visited our hydraulic lab with Dr Onyx Wei, our structural lab with Prof. Y.L. Xu, and wind tunnel with Dr Y Zhou from Department of Mechanical Engineering.
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A truck was blown over by fierce wind |
A model set up to measure wind-induced forces on
vehicles
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Visit by Prof.
Chris Letchford from Texas Tech University, USA
Professor Chris Letchford from
Wind Science and Engineering Research Centre of Texas Tech University,
USA, visited the Research Centre on  |
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| Bank 1
Building Fort Worth, 90% of cladding damaged |
Cladding damage to |
Dr. Letchford is a
Professor of Civil Engineering at Texas Tech University Oxford University
Visit by Prof.
Y.P. Wang
from Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan
Prof. Wang Yen-Po from
- Research on Seismic Hazard Mitigation of Hi-tech Industry in Taiwan
- Seismic Risks in Semiconductor IC Fabs - A Case Study
- When Civil Engineers Meet Hi-tech Industry - An Introduction of the Manufacturing Process Modules in Semiconductor Industry
- Innovative Uniform Structural Damper - Concept, Testing and Applications
- Towards the Performance-based Design of Bridges - Development of Unseating Prevention Dampers
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| Structural Model of a Typical Double
Fab |
Prof. Wang has been working in the field of earthquake engineering for nearly 20 years since his graduate study in National Centre of Earthquake Engineering Research at SUNY/Buffalo in
Visit by Prof. Li
from Tongji University, China
Prof. Jie LI from Tongji University at
Shanghai, China, visited the Research Centre during 12-19 November 2002
to share his research and practical experience with the members of the
Centre in the
field of risk analysis of lifeline networks in modern cities under
earthquake attack. During his visit, he met Prof. J.M. Ko, Prof. Y.S.
Li, Prof. Y.L. Xu, Prof. K.T. Chau, Prof. J.G. Teng, Dr, Y.Q. Ni, and
Dr Tommy Chan. He had substantial discussions with Prof. Y. L. Xu and
delivered a public seminar at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on
14 November 2002 about the recent development of lifeline engineering
in Mainland China. The main topics of his seminar include
- Numerical simulation of earthquake-induced ground motion in a region.
- Reliability analysis of engineering structures using response spectrum method.
- Seismic reliability analysis of lifeline networks in modern cities.
- Optimization of lifeline networks in modern cities under
earthquake attack.
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| Water supply pipeline systems in Shanghai |
Dr. Li is a professor of structural engineering of Tongji University at Shanghai, China, and Director of Building Engineering Research Institute. In 1999, he was appointed by the Ministry of National Education of China as one of the first Cheung Scholar Professors in Mainland China. Prof. Li has attracted more than 20 major research grants including the National Outstanding Young Scholar Science Foundation. He has published more than 140 journal papers and six scientific books. As a principle investigator, he has received more than 10 National and Municipal Scientific and Technological Progress Awards.
Visit by Mr. Ru,
Program Director of NSFC, China
Mr. J.P. Ru is a program director in the
Division of Engineering and Materials Sciences, the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (NSFC), and responsible for the research
areas related to architecture, civil engineering, and environmental
engineering. Mr. Ru visited the Centre on 14 Nov. 2002 and met Prof.
J.M. Ko, Prof. Y.S. Li, Prof. Y.L. Xu, Prof. K.T. Chau, Prof. J.G.
Teng, Dr, Y.Q. Ni, and Dr Tommy Chan. He also delivered a public
seminar to the research staff of the Centre.
Mr. Ru's seminar covered the following main topics:
- Basic information on NSFC: responsibilities; financial resources; and organizational structure.
- Major research programs and funding scale.
- Principles of evaluation and peer review system.
- Technical frontiers in the disciplines of architecture,
civil engineering and environmental engineering.
Visit by
Professors Ye and Huang from Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
Two distinguished scientists, Prof. Shuhua Ye and Cheng Huang,
from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Science,
visited the Research Centre during 7-11 October 2002, as part of their
visit
to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Prof. Madam Ye is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Science and
the Chief Scientist of the Asia Pacific Space Geodynamics (APSG)
Programme. Prof. Huang is the Director of the Centre for
Astro-Geodynamics
Research, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. Both of the visitors have
made significant contributions to the field of observing the dynamics
of the Earth with space-based geodetic technologies. There has been
close
collaboration between their research group and some of members of the
RCUHM.
The visitors met and held extensive discussions with some members of
the RCUHM, including Prof. Ko, Prof. Chen, Prof. Xu and Dr. Ding.
Further collaborative work has been planned between the two sides.
Visit by Dr.
Man-Chung Tang from T.Y. International
Dr Man-Chung Tang visited Faculty of Construction and Land Use of The Hong Kong Polytechnic Universityon October 22, 2002. He delivered a distinguish lecture on “The Art of Cable-stayed Bridges” to academic staff, government officials, local engineers, and research students. He had a meeting, chaired by Prof. J.M. Ko, with relevant members of the Research Center, during which Prof. Y.L. Xu, Dr. Y.Q, Ni, and Dr T.H.T Chan each gave a presentation on the Center’s research activities in the field of long span cable-supported bridges.
Dr. Man-Chung Tang, T.Y. Lin International’s Chairman of the Board and Technical Director, has worldwide experience in the design and construction of long span cable-supported bridges. Dr. Tang was elected to the National Academy of Engineering of USA in 1995 and elected as a Foreign Member to the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2000. Dr Tang served as Chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers Committee on Cable-Suspended Bridges and many other technical committees. Dr. Tang’s other notable achievements include the 1999 Roebling Award for major contributions to the technology for the design and construction of complex and long-span bridge structures worldwide and the 1998 John A. Roebling Medal for lifetime achievement in bridge engineering. Dr Tang is also Honorary Professor of Tsinghua University, Southeast University, and Dalian University of Technology.
Visit by Professor Chen Yong from the China Seismological Bureau
Professor Chen Yong was invited by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to take part in its Ninth Distinguished Chinese Visiting Scholars Scheme with the objectives of fostering friendship and partnership between PolyU and distinguished scholars as well as enhancing institutional collaboration and exchange.
Professor Chen Yong is an internationally renowned geophysicist and has been a very energetic leader in the academic field. He was elected Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1993. He is currently Deputy Director-General of the Seismology Division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, President of the Chinese Geophysical Society, President of the Chinese Seismological Society, Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Committee of the China Seismological Bureau and Fellow of the Third World Academy of Sciences.
During his stay at PolyU, Prof. Chen shared with us his valuable knowledge and experience through delivering a seminar on 27 September 2002 and discussing with our staff and students.
International Conference on Advances and New Challenges in Earthquake Engineering Research (ICANCEER)
Under the sponsorship of Asian-Pacific Network of Centres for Earthquake Engineering Research (ANCER), the International Conference on Advances and New Challenges in Earthquake Engineering Research (ICANCEER) was successfully held in August 15-20, 2002. The Conference consisted of two consecutive back-to-back meetings in Harbin and Hong Kong. The Harbin component of the meeting was hosted by the Institute of Engineering Mechanics of China Seismological Bureau in August 15-17, 2002, where the program focus was on new phenomena of earthquake engineering and innovative solution approaches. The Hong Kong meeting component was hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in August 19-20, 2002, where problems of moderate seismicity and intelligent infrastructure engineering were the program emphases. Research for development and application of advanced technologies was addressed throughout the entire Conference and was the common underpinning of both meetings.
Visit by the Director of the Chinese Seismological Bureau
The Director of the Chinese Seismological Bureau Mr. Song Ruixiang, and his colleagues Messrs Xu Deshi and Huang Jianfa visited the Research Centre on 15 May 2002.
The visitors were met respectively by the President of the University, Prof. Poon Chung-kwong, the Chairman of the Research Centre, Associate Vice President of the University and Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Land Use, Prof. J.M. Ko, and a number of academic and research staff.The guests visited the research facilities of the Research Centre and held in-dept discussions on research issues and possible collaborations.
Messrs C.K. Lau and Raymond Chan of the Civil Engineering Department, and Messrs H.W. Cheung and K.M. Cheung of the Building Department, of the HK SAR Government also met the visitors at the University.
Prof. Y.L. Xu and Dr. X.L. Ding each gave a presentation to the visitors and the local guests. The presentations were entitled respectively Research of Earthquake Engineering in Hong Kong and Earthquake Related Research in the Department of LSGI.
