Earthquakes

Combining analytical techniques, laboratory experiments and measurements on real structures to understand and improve the seismic performance of the built environment.

Research in depth: From dams to entire networks

From early work on the seismic analysis of concrete dams, the group has extended its interests to the wider aspects of structural dynamics. A defining feature of our approach is the combination of analytical techniques, laboratory experiments and measurements on real structures, leading to a better understanding of how structures actually behave and to more reliable methods of analysis and design. The group now carries out research in many fields, including:

  • Seismic hazard assessment and ground response modelling
  • Seismic and dynamic soil-foundation-structure interaction, including pipelines, piles and offshore foundations
  • Seismic safety and the nonlinear structural dynamics of buildings and nuclear facilities
  • Seismic performance of infrastructure networks including long-span bridges
  • Retrofit systems for buildings and for non-structural elements
  • Seismic performance of dams and retaining structures
  • Earthquake field investigations

Our themes: We work on ...

Seismic hazard, ground motion and risk

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis in regions of sparse seismicity; stochastic strong-motion simulation of mega-thrust events; performance-based seismic loss estimation for urban regions; financial earthquake risk analysis including insurance and catastrophe bonds; tsunami hazard and risk with stochastic source modelling; and multi-hazard frameworks for cascading earthquake-liquefaction-tsunami-aftershock sequences.

Fibre-Reinforced Soils, Sustainable Composites

Seismic and dynamic interaction of soils, foundations and structures, including buried pipelines subjected to permanent ground deformation, piles, and offshore foundations, combining hybrid experimental and numerical methods with decision-support tools for rapid post-earthquake recovery.

Buildings and nuclear facilities

Seismic safety and nonlinear structural dynamics, from shaking-table testing of physical models of Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor cores for plant life extension, to the vulnerability and integrity of nonlinear dynamic structural systems, to affordable retrofit solutions for school buildings in developing countries.

Infrastructure networks and long bridges

Seismic performance and resilience of roadway networks and their structural and geotechnical components; multiple support excitation of long-span bridges on a unique five-table experimental test bed; and the effects of spatially variable ground motion, incoherency and wave passage on long bridges.

Dams and retaining structures

Seismic performance of concrete gravity dams and reservoir structures, from forced-vibration testing of full-scale dams in the field to the modelling of dynamic fluid pressures in dam-foundation joints.

Earthquake field investigations

Post-earthquake reconnaissance with EEFIT and GEER, including missions to Kobe (1995), Quindío Colombia (1999), Maule Chile (2010), Tohoku Japan (2011), Gorkha Nepal (2015), Kumamoto Japan (2016) and Central Italy (2016), turning field damage data into better codes, models and research questions.

Education and public engagement

The IDEERS seismic design competition, launched in 2000, has introduced earthquake engineering to generations of school students, a concept since adopted internationally. The group has also brought its research to the public through exhibits such as the Great Bristol Shake Off at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, and is happy to test school models on the shaking table between research campaigns.