Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for Europe

The Seismology Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for Europe (SERA) aims to reduce the risk posed by natural and anthropogenic earthquakes based on innovative research and development projects. SERA will significantly improve the access to data, services and research infrastructures for scientists and other professionals.

Duration: 2017-2020
Funding: EU, H2020, INFRAIA-01-2016-2017 ‘Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities’

TA project: ARISTA

The project studied the cyclic lateral load response of a 2:3-scale three-storey, one-by-two-bay, strong beam-weak column RC frame, focusing on the effects of the column’s smooth bars and of their detailing on local and global behaviour. Slippage of bars caused concentration of column deformations in flexural cracks at the top and base sections and gave to the global hysteresis loops a shape typical of bond-slip behaviour, but without cyclic strength decay.

More in https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-020-00900-5

TA project: ARCO

Short reinforced concrete coupling beams are key for the adequate behavior of coupled-wall structures, while at the same time they are susceptible to brittle shear failures. The project focuses on the study of member behaviour as influenced by the axial restraint provided by the stiff shear walls. The experimental program comprised four large-scale coupling beams with variable level of axial restraint and different types of loading. Load-displacement curves, crack diagrams, deformed shapes, steel strain measurements, photographs, and an advanced strut-and-tie model are used to establish a comprehensive picture of the behavior of the beams. It is shown that the axial restraint generates large compression in the beams and significantly alters their crack pattern and shear strength.

More in https://doi.org/10.14359/51732644

TA project: HITFRAMES

Existing steel moment-resisting frames in several seismic regions worldwide are often charac- terised by high vulnerability to earthquakes due to insufficient local and/or global ductility. Project HITFRAMES (i.e., HybrId Testing of an Existing Steel Frame with Infills under Multiple EarthquakeS) experimentally evaluated a case study building representative of non-seismically designed European steel frames with masonry infills and investigated a retrofit strategy employing buckling restraint braces.

More in https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2021.106873