Earthquake Engineering

Earthquake engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering dedicated to mitigating the risks associated with seismic events on the built environment. It involves the study of ground motion, the analysis of how structures like buildings and bridges respond to these dynamic forces, and the development of design and construction techniques to enhance their resilience. Practitioners in this field design new infrastructure to withstand anticipated seismic loads and develop strategies for retrofitting existing structures to improve their performance and safety during an earthquake, ultimately aiming to protect human life and minimize economic loss.

1. Introduction to Earthquake Engineering
   1. Historical Context and Evolution
      1. Early Earthquake-Resistant Structures
         1. Ancient Construction Techniques
         2. Traditional Building Methods in Seismic Regions
      2. Major Earthquake Events and Lessons Learned
         1. 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
         2. 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake
         3. 1985 Mexico City Earthquake
         4. 1994 Northridge Earthquake
         5. 1995 Kobe Earthquake
         6. 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
      3. Development of Seismic Codes and Standards
         1. Evolution of Building Codes
         2. International Code Development
         3. Performance-Based Design Evolution
   2. Scope and Objectives
      1. Definition of Earthquake Engineering
      2. Goals of Seismic Safety
         1. Life Safety Protection
         2. Property Protection
         3. Functional Continuity
      3. Role in Civil Infrastructure
         1. Building Design Applications
         2. Infrastructure Protection
         3. Risk Mitigation Strategies
   3. Interdisciplinary Nature
      1. Integration with Geology
         1. Seismic Hazard Assessment
         2. Site Characterization
      2. Integration with Structural Engineering
         1. Dynamic Analysis Methods
         2. Design Methodologies
      3. Integration with Geotechnical Engineering
         1. Soil-Structure Interaction
         2. Foundation Design
      4. Integration with Urban Planning and Architecture
         1. Land Use Planning
         2. Building Configuration