USCViterbi School
of Engineering
CE 547 Earthquake Engineering - Response of
Structures
Times: 6:30-9:10 pm, once weekly
Units: 3
Semester: Spring
Location: University Park Campus
Instructor: Dr. Mihailo Trifunac
Office: KAP 216D
Office Hours: By Appointment Only
Phone: 213-740-0570
IT Help: 213-740-5555
IT Help Email: engrhelp@usc.edu
Course Summary: Vibrational vs. wave methods of solution of dynamic problems,
spectral superposition methods, soil-structure interaction, and probabilistic methods for
estimation of structural response. Identification and health monitoring methods applied
to full-scale structures. Experimental methods. Application of small amplitude ambient
vibration tests to an example building. Nonlinear response of structures to transient
loads (earthquake and explosive excitations).
Catalogue Description: Solutions of seismic structural response: vibrational vs. wave
methods, spectral superposition, probabilistic response estimation, nonlinear response;
soil-structure interaction; identification, structural health monitoring; experimental
methods.
Learning Objectives: Students will learn about the modern methods in Earthquake
Engineering design and hazard reduction through critical review and independent
analysis of the state of the art techniques. They will be invited to exercise their
independent judgment and to practice in the selection of optimal solutions through
comprehensive literature review and individual research projects of their own choice.
Prerequisites/Co-Requisites: None
Required Readings and Supplementary Materials: There is no single published text that
covers all the topics covered in this course. Many books (like Earthquake Engineering,
edited by R. Wiegel – Prentice Hall 1970; Fundamentals of Earthquake Engineering by N.
Newmark and E. Rosenblueth – Prentice Hall 1971), journal papers (from ASCE
Engineering Mechanics Division; Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering; Indian
Society of Earthquake Technology Journal; Izgradnja; Structural Control and Health
Monitoring) and conference papers (from World Conferences on Earthquake
Engineering; National Conferences on Earthquake Engineering; European Conferences
on Earthquake Engineering, etc) will be used. Students will have access to the
specialized Earthquake Engineering Library and will be able to use the strong motion
and ambient vibration instrumentation, which are both in KAP B26.
Description and Assessment of Assignments:
Homework: The homework will typically require perusal of published journal papers and
their analysis and interpretation, and will only occasionally be designed to complement
and extend the material presented during lectures. Most of the homework and reading
assignments will be selected individually and will be different for each student. As one
of the objectives of this class is to introduce students to independent research, specific
reading and homework will be designed for each student separately and will depend on
their previous knowledge and the material they select for the term project. Schedules
for these reading assignments and homework will vary from one student to the next.
There will be no uniform reading assignments for the entire class.
Project: The projects will be defined individually for each student, and can range from
original research work to a comprehensive literature review. The topics for the projects
will be selected based on interest and background of the students and to the extent
possible will be tailored to prepare them for their expected future work. Selection of the
topic and the scope for the project will be determined during the first two weeks in the
semester, during individual meetings with the professor. Upon completion all projects
will be presented in the format of journal papers.
Presentation: The students will present their findings, in a conference-like setting at the
end of the semester.
Presentation: The students will present their findings, in a conference-like setting at the
end of the semester.
Grading Breakdown:
The course grades will be determined based on (a) homework (10%) and (b) term
projects (90%). The homework and projects will be graded based on the quality of the
written material and on the quality of oral presentation. The nature of the student
projects (ranging from the state of the art reviews in the selected subject area, and all
the way to advanced research papers, which can be submitted to journals for
publication) will not influence the final grade. All projects, irrespective of the project
type, will be graded with equal weight and the grades will depend only on the merits of
each project individually. Throughout the work on their projects the students will seek
advice, guidance and help of the professor.
Course Schedule: A Weekly Breakdown:
Week One: Linear continuous systems
 Wave equation
 Infinite and half space
 Wave guides
Week Two: Dispersion of elastic waves
 Layered wave guides
 Bounded wave guides (buildings)
Week Three: Approximate theories
 Shear beam, Euler-Bernoulli beam, Rayleigh beam, Timoshenko beam
Week Four: Linear discrete systems
 Lumped mass methods
 Eigenvalue problems, Betti’s theorem, symmetric matrices
Week Five: Nonlinear systems
 Nonlinear vibration problems
 Nonlinear waves
Week Six: Soil-structure-interaction (SSI)
 SSI with rigid and flexible foundations
 SSI and site effects
Week Seven: Response spectra
Week Eight: Response spectrum superposition methods
Week Nine: Probabilistic estimation of structural response
 Distributions of maxima of time functions
 Confidence intervals for peak responses
Week Ten: Experimental methods for full scale structures
 Elements of time series analysis
 Field experiment (Kaprielian Hall)
Week Eleven: Structural health monitoring
 Vibrational methods
 Wave propagation methods
Week Twelve: Analysis and interpretation of post earthquake damage
Week Thirteen: Hydrodynamics
 Dynamic pressures on dams
 Tsunami forces
Week Fourteen: Selected topics based on student requests and special interests.
Week Fifteen: Review
Statement for Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with
Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early
in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday. Website and contact information for DSP:
http://sait.usc.edu/academicsupport/centerprograms/dsp/home_index.html, (213) 740-0776 (Phone),
(213) 740-6948 (TDD only), (213) 740-8216 (FAX) ability@usc.edu.
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the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be
submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own
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(www.usc.edu/scampus or http://scampus.usc.edu) contains the University Student Conduct Code (see
University Governance, Section 11.00), while the recommended sanctions are located in Appendix A.
Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further
review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The Review process can be found at:
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http://usc.edu/academe/acsen/issues/ipr/index.html.
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