Online conferences
September 12, 2023
Webinar organized by the Department of Structural Engineering at Damascus university.
 Abbas Allawi
University of Baghdad |
Performance of Encased GFRP Pultruded I-Section Beams under Fire Exposure
Abstract: In this research, experimental and numerical studies were carried out to investigate the performance of encased glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) beams under fire. The test specimens were divided into two peer groups to be tested under the effect of ambient and elevated temperatures. The first group was statically tested to investigate the monotonic behavior of the specimens. The second group was exposed to fire loading first and then statically tested to explore the residual behavior of the burned specimens. Adding shear connectors and web stiffeners to the GFRP beam was the main parameter in this investigation. Moreover, service loads were applied to the tested beams during the fire. Utilizing shear connectors, web stiffeners, and both enhanced the load-carrying capacities of the encased beams by 100.6%, 97.3%, and 130.8%, respectively. Comparisons between the burned and unburned peer beams were presented with losses in the load-carrying capacity of the burned beams. These losses were the highest in the cases of shear connectors and web stiffeners due to the obtained severe damage, which led to more reductions in the residual behavior of the burned beams. Numerical analyses were performed using the general-purpose finite element (FE) ABAQUS package to conduct a parametric study. The investigated parameters included the effect of the exposure duration and the temperature level. The results of the FE analysis showed good agreement with the experimental results. Additional reductions in the residual capacities of the fire-damaged beams were observed due to exposure to longer fire durations. The improvements in the beam capacities due to using shear connectors and web stiffeners relative to the reference beams under the same exposure time decreased as the exposure duration increased. Furthermore, increasing the temperature to 700 °C, 800 °C, 900 °C, and 950 °C caused reductions in the residual capacities by about 25%, 45%, 70%, and 80%, respectively, for the encased beams in comparison to their peers at ambient temperature. Download presentation here (PDF) |
 Stefano Silvestri University of Bologna |
Simplified procedure for the seismic design of structures equipped with fluid-viscous dampers
Abstract: The seminar provides simple design indications for the insertion of fluid-viscous dampers in frame structures, for the mitigation of the seismic effects. The "Direct Five-Step Procedure" is presented which aims at guiding the practitioner through the sizing of both dampers and frame columns using equivalent static analyses. A wide theoretical basis is provided and an applicative example is developed to highlight the effectiveness of the procedure for the preliminary design phase.
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April 3, 2023
As part of its research activities and in response to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the L2MGC (L2MGC - Civil Engineering Mechanics and Materials Laboratory) cordially invites you to online conferences on Monday, April 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (UTC+2). Registration is necessary but participation is free at the link below or by e-mail.
 Patrik K. MEYER Department of Industrial Engineering Haliç University, Istanbul 9h30h00-10h00 (UTC+2) |
Constructing Disasters One Building at a Time
Turkey’s earthquakes and why most of the resulting massive human and economic losses are to be attributed to deliberate acts of ethical misconduct. Abstract: The M7.8 and M7.5 Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence resulted in massive human and economic losses, both in Turkey and Syria. After two visits to the Turkish side, a region well-known for its high seismicity, two facts can be identified, and one conclusion drawn. The first fact is that most structural failures where the result of preventable human error: deficient construction materials, substandard workmanship, inadequate design (short-column, soft-story, ground liquefaction, ground-structure resonance), and the government’s failure to enforce the building code. The second is that the Turkish building code includes adequate standards to address the high seismicity of the region, Turkish engineers know how to design earthquake-resilient structures, and Turkish contractors and construction workers are, generally, sufficiently skilled to build according to engineering designs. Given that the knowledge and resources needed to adequately design, build and supervise seismically resilient buildings were readily available but failed to be implemented, resulting in a massive stock of substandard structures, it can be concluded that there were deliberate acts of ethical misconduct at the design, construction, and approval stages. This lack of ethics is currently deeply ingrained in the Turkish society, making it difficult to correct. Download presentation here (PDF) |
 Dalia NAJJAR HIESR, Syria 10h00-10h30 (UTC+2) |
Structural Damage Assessment of Existing Buildings in Aleppo City
Abstract: Masonry buildings constitute a high percentage of the buildings in Aleppo city, as these buildings are distinguished by their old age. Masonry is one of the most ancient construction materials which has been used in Aleppo city for thousands of years, for instance, the citadel of Aleppo. Reinforced concrete members have been used in conjunction with masonry walls approximately since 1950. In general, after issuing the Seismic Syrian Code 1995, reinforced concert buildings that are resistant to earthquakes were constructed. This presentation includes an assessment of structural damage within existing buildings, especially masonry buildings, in Aleppo city after 6 February earthquake. Download presentation here (video) |
 Samer SULEIMAN Tartous University, Syria 10h30-11h00 (UTC+2) |
Lessons Learned from the last earthquakes on RC Building Performance in Syria
Abstract: This presentation shows an overview of the performance of reinforced concrete buildings during the earthquakes struck northern and western Syria and southern and central Turkey on 6 and 20 February2023. The two earthquakes, that had a maximum Mercalli intensity of XII, caused many reinforced concrete buildings to be destroyed or heavily damaged. Considering the fault characteristics in Syria, it is anticipated to be major earthquakes in the coming few years. Lessons learned from these earthquakes will be very significant in reducing the damages that will occur in future earthquakes. A range of painful lessons has been learned, mainly in relation to modes of failure and design criteria used in Syria. This presentation aims to outline the performance of reinforced concrete buildings in terms of modes of failure during the two major catastrophic earthquakes. Finally, it should be emphasized that many Syrian researchers in different universities around the world are currently carrying out several investigations to define more comprehensive reasons of structural failures and damages. Download presentation here (video) |
 Mais GHASSOUN Wadi private University, Syria  Ghoson DANHASH Al-Baath University, Syria 11h00-11h30 (UTC+2) |
Seismic responses to qualitative structures in the middle region of Syria with the February 2023 Earthquakes Effect
Abstract: The structural system is almost the same in the Syrian Arab Republic. Therefore, understanding the responses of the structures in the areas close to the earthquakes center that occurred in February 2023 enables us to predict the behavior of the structures in the rest of the Syrian cities, taking into account the geological characteristics and the executive and investment conditions of each structure if The seismic movements were repeated in other regions. In this brief presentation, we show the seismic effects that affected some qualitative structures in the middle region of Syria, which includes the governorates of Homs and Hama. Mainly, we dealt with the gas plant, models of high tanks, and models of stone and archaeological buildings, finally the observations Related to the classification of problems that led to these damages were concluded to improve the dynamic structural behavior of the structural system that used in Syria. Download presentation here (video) |
 Ismail BELLO CY Cergy Paris University, France 11h30-12h00 (UTC+2)
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Mechanical constitutive behaviour of masonry using digital image correlation
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March 16, 2023
As part of its research activities and in response to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the L2MGC (L2MGC - Civil Engineering Mechanics and Materials Laboratory) cordially invites you to two online conferences on Thursday, March 16 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (UTC+1). Registration is necessary but participation is free at the link below or by e-mail.
 National Earthquake Center, Syria 12h00-12h30 Raed AHMAD
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The February 6 earthquake using the recordings of the Syrian National Seismological Network stations records
Abstract: On February 6, 2023, all Syrian cities shook due to a large earthquake of 7.8 magnitude, which occurred on the East Anatolian Fault in the Kahramanmaras region. The objective of this article is to provide an estimate of the direct damage caused by earthquake in Syria and simulation of earthquake ground motion through hazard modelling that was verified against instrumental strong ground motion recordings. In Syria, this strong earthquake has resulted in widespread damage across 4 governorates. This includes Aleppo, Lattakia, Idlib, and partly Hama, governorates. Many buildings collapsed in Aleppo, Lattakia, and Jableh, and the death toll exceeded 6500 with at least 14500 injuries. This earthquake also led to the cracking of hundreds of schools and damage to archaeological buildings and some old buildings in coastal cities and the northern countryside of Tartous. Until February 24, more than 3,300 aftershocks were monitored by Syrian National Seismological Network, concentrated along the East Anatolian Fault, passing through the Iskenderun Fault of Antioch, to the Cyprus arc. Based on the observed acceleration values at the stations of Al-Qastal, Tishreen, Totah, and Qasiyoun, the seismic intensity and ground-shaking acceleration maps were estimated. Based on resulted attenuation model the normalized map was deduced over the entire area of the Syrian Arab Republic. The response spectra curves have been studied to obtain the major parameters such as spectral acceleration, predominant period. The results showed that the buildings were exposed to high excitation forces with high acceleration. Soil dynamic properties and geological setting were not well studied. Keywords: Earthquake damage, 6thFebruray earthquake, Syrian National Seismological Network, Seismic risk, Peak ground acceleration, Spectral response, Syria.
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 Research Center ENEA Bologna, Italy 12h30-13h00 |
Living with the earthquake in the Mediterranean basin
Abstract: The seismic risk in the Mediterranean basin is a reality to live with. Therefore, it is important to know this hazard source and to implement different strategies to preserve both human life and ordinary and historical constructions. Knowledge of territorial seismicity and understanding different types of seismic techniques and innovative materials, according to standard seismic design criteria, must prevent other catastrophes giving rise to too high costs in terms of victims and damage to the built heritage.
Download presentation here (PDF) |