Category: Presentations

This seminar provides guidance on the simplified lateral mechanism analysis (SLaMA) of existing buildings. The seminar aims to clarify the conceptual basis of how the approach can be used to assist in establishing the %NBS of a building. Two worked examples will be reviewed during the seminar, making reference to relevant parts of the NZSEE detailed seismic assessment guidelines and a newly released set of guidelines for SLaMA. It is intended that practitioners inexperienced with the subject of seismic assessment will leave the seminar equipped with a better understanding of the SLaMA approach and valuable notes for later reference.

Speaker Profile

Tim Sullivan

Tim Sullivan is an Associate Professor at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Prior to that he was based in Italy where he was head of the Design Methods Section of the European Centre for Training and Research in Earthquake Engineering, and Assistant Professor at the University of Pavia. Tim’s research interests lie mainly in the examination of the fundamentals of seismic design and experimental testing techniques. He is particularly well recognised for his work in displacement-based seismic design and assessment methods, with his PhD supervised by Nigel Priestley and Gian Michele Calvi. Tim has more than 100 publications related to seismic design, seismic assessment, seismic retrofit and mitigation of seismic risk. Tim is also a chartered professional engineer with the UK institute of Civil Engineers, having worked in the UK, New Zealand, Germany and Italy on a wide range of building and bridge projects.

Barry Davidson

Barry has over thirty years’ experience in structural engineering, design, research and teaching. He has a wide-ranging background that includes the seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete and unreinforced masonry buildings and the design of damping and isolation systems to mitigate vibrations for buildings, stairways and bridges. He taught and lead research into seismic design at the University of Auckland for over twenty years, while remaining in contact with the design profession through his company, Compusoft Engineering Ltd. He has played an active role in the profession, where with the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering, he was part of the successful team that managed the 2000 World Conference in Earthquake Engineering, he is a past President of and life member of SESOC.

by David Biggs, P.E., S.E.

Engineering forensics includes the investigation of structural failures and disasters.  Failures affect materials, products, buildings, bridges, civil structures or components that do not continue to function as intended.  Sometimes failures lead to disasters and incur personal injury and property damage. A forensic investigation is usually implemented to determine causes of the failure so as to improve performance, develop corrective action, assess the remaining life of the structure, or to uncover the facts to be used in legal proceedings.

Engineering forensics is related to, but distinctly different from, design engineering.  With training and education, experienced design engineers are excellent candidates to become forensic engineers.  This program is intended for attendees to acquire a base of knowledge to provide either forensic services or assist in the assessment of disasters.  The information and techniques are applicable to the evaluation and assessment, restoration, and strengthening of modern and historic structures.  Case examples will be taken from buildings, bridges, and historic structures in the US, NZ, Europe and Nepal.

Jason Ingham / Francisco Galvez

Detailed Seismic Assessment of Complex Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (afternoon seminar)
Using the national seismic assessment methodology, all Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (URM) will initially be profiled as being earthquake prone, and hence will require further assessment to establish their likely seismic capacity. Section C8 is the national guidance document on how to undertake a detailed seismic assessment of URM buildings using a consistent methodology. However, section C8 was intentionally composed for use on relatively simple URM buildings, and currently no guidance is provided for how to address more complex structural configurations that are outside the scope of Section C8.
Recently a seismic assessment methodology for URM buildings has been developed in Europe, referred to as the Macroblock approach. This methodology is derived from the highly repeatable nature of failure modes observed in URM buildings after large earthquakes, and the application of a simplified mechanics-based approach to calculate the capacity of various macroblock failure modes. The method is fully consistent with section C8 but can be generalised to any building form, such that the Macroblock method is an effective tool for extension of Section C8 to address more complex building configurations.

2018 SESOC President South Island Travelling lectures

Presentations by

Prof. Jason Ingham – Concrete anchors and embedded items

Dr. Dmytro Dizhur – Innovative Seismic Retrofit of Masonry Buildings in Small Town NZ

Dr. Lucas Hogan – Design and Testing of Precast wall panel to foundation connections