Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2019
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.01.04 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Civil engineering |
Earthquake engineering |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T220 |
Technological sciences |
Civil engineering, hydraulic engineering, offshore technology, soil mechanics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
earthquake engineering, seismic design, structures, non-structural elements, seismic risk, seismic strenghtening, cultural heritage buildings, Eurocodes, stress test, expected losses, community resilience, life cycle analysis, new concrete, non-destructive testing, information modelling
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
October 7, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
261 |
7,475 |
6,880 |
26.36 |
| Scopus |
344 |
10,904 |
10,066 |
29.26 |
Researchers (34)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Strong earthquakes in Slovenia cannot be prevented. It is therefore important to be prepared for extreme natural events and to protect the people and the built environment in a best possible manner, which requires consideration of the available resources, the prescribed safety and the permissible recovery time after an earthquake. In addition, the diversity of the existing building stock and infrastructure, as well as the new type of structures and materials, which started to emerge rapidly on the market, have to be considered in the disaster management process.
In the research program, we are solving the problem of community seismic resilience using an interdisciplinary approach, through close collaboration with different partners within several national and international projects. Research is carried out in three work packages: 1) Design of new and strengthening of existing conventional structures, 2) Methods and tools for development of resilient built environment, and 3) New technologies, materials and structural systems for sustainable development.
The objective of the research is to improve the design procedures and strengthening of structures, and to contribute to the development of a new standard for earthquake-resistant design of structures (Eurocode 8) where several members of research group are actively involved. Research is also focused on the designing of the lifetime of facilities by using innovative materials, on the sustainable management of infrastructural components and on the development of a process for the integral renovation of buildings and cultural heritage facilities. The final goal of the research within the proposed six-year program is to enhance the community seismic resilience and to modernize the construction sector, which consumes a large share of natural resources and produces a large share of waste, which represents a contribution of the research group to a circular economy with consideration of seismic safety of built environment.
The program group is internationally recognized and involved in several international projects and other international associations. The proposed research is therefore harmonized and consistent with research across the world. The level of international division of work is high, since the members of the program cooperate with dozens of research institutions around the world. New knowledge will be included in the curricula at the University of Ljubljana and abroad. Several young researchers and researchers from abroad will be trained within the research program.
Significance for science
In each of the three work packages of the research program, several original contributions for the development of science are expected.
1) Design of new and strengthening of existing conventional construction
Experimental and numerical research will importantly improve the understanding of the seismic response of conventional structures (coupled walls, flat slabs, existing and new steel structures, and integral bridges) and non-structural elements. The results of innovative experiments, which will be carried out in cooperation with the leading European research centres, will be included into the largest relevant world’s databases. In this way, many important data for future studies will be contributed to international research community, since very few such experiments have been performed so far.
The results of the research will provide an insight into the relationship between seismic safety, resilience and sustainability of buildings. New risk-targeted design procedures will be developed. The scientific achievements in these fields will be used for the development of the European standard for earthquake-resistant design (Eurocode 8). Several members of program group are actively involved in this process. This will be an important contribution to the enhancement of the civil engineering profession and design practice in Europe and worldwide.
2) Methods and tools for development of resilient built environment
The stress test of the built environment will be developed by using physics-based models, which will allow analysing the response of the built environment for a particular earthquake by taking into account information modelling with different level of details. By simulating the seismic response of the built environment, we will obtain an insight into its behaviour during different earthquakes, as well as quantitative information about the seismic risk. This information will be the basis for the development of measures for strengthening the community seismic resilience in relation to optimal use of resources, and for the development of other fields of science. In addition, new information will enhance the seismic design objectives for individual structures, since the design or strengthening of a single structure and the seismic resilience of the built environment will be considered as a coupled problem.
Systematic interdisciplinary research of advanced materials with mineral binders, up to the age of 200 years (based on accelerated tests), will be used for the realistic evaluation of the seismic resistance of new reinforced concrete and masonry structures and the strengthened existing structures, including cultural heritage buildings. It will enable the sustainable management of the built environment. An original scientific contribution will be the method for optimal planning of the functionality of the road network, which will take into account the criteria for sustainable management of the built environment and extreme natural events, such as earthquakes. A more complete understanding of the renovation of the existing building stock will be achieved by upgrading the energy rehabilitation of buildings with consideration of the seismic risk, which is not negligible in seismic prone areas.
3) New technologies, materials and structures for sustainable development
The synergy of knowledge of various disciplines in the field of advanced materials and non-destructive testing will provide the basis for the selection of optimal materials for the strengthening, and the reduction of the impact of epistemic uncertainty in the assessment of seismic performance of existing buildings.
A new knowledge about the seismic response of new structural systems (concrete-timber buildings, buildings with thermal insulation under foundations, reinforced concrete frames with DualPhase steel, laminated glass) will be obtained and used for the development of standards and sustainable management of the built environment.
Significance for the country
The proposed research is focused on the development of a sustainable management of the built environment with an emphasis on strengthening the resilience of the Slovenian population in response to earthquakes.
By improving the standards for earthquake-resistant design of structures, we will contribute to the safety of the built environment and to the modernization of the structural design. In this way, we will importantly influence to the work of engineering practitioners at home and abroad. The new standard will include improved design procedures, which will guarantee and adequate resistance of buildings and provide more efficient use of natural resources in the construction sector.
Innovative risk-targeted design procedures will support and importantly improve the design of the most important infrastructure facilities, including facilities which are important for nuclear and radiation safety.
New technological solutions for the seismic strengthening of non-structural elements using synthetic materials and new methodologies for the seismic strengthening of structures will affect the work of construction and design sector. Design methods for advanced materials with mineral binders, which are used to improve the durability of buildings, will enhance the production of building materials. Anchors for strengthening of the façade walls will be useful in the seismic-energy renovation of existing masonry buildings.
Information about the seismic risk of the built environment and the loss estimation of new or existing facilities will enable the development of new services in the design sector and ICT companies, since such information is interesting for wide range of community stakeholders, including the insurance companies and companies, which manage a portfolio of buildings.
National or city authorities will be able to enhance preparedness and community seismic resilience. This will strengthen communication between civil protection units, owners and other stakeholders. The information modelling of seismic stress test of built environment will enable digitalization of the seismic stress test.
Studies of the seismic response of new structural systems will contribute to the development of new products (concrete-timber buildings, large glass façade systems, RC buildings with DualPhase reinforcement) and will facilitate the use of devices for seismic base isolation of structures.
Research results will enable more rational decisions regarding the strengthening of earthquake non-resistant structures (e.g. schools, kindergartens, cultural heritage and sacral buildings) and infrastructural networks (e.g. road networks). This will increase the seismic resistance of structures and their equipment in Slovenia. In this way the number of casualties and economic losses in future earthquakes will be significantly reduced.
We will contribute to the promotion of Slovenia by realizing the first goal of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (UN, 2015), which is aimed at evaluating and understanding the risks of natural disasters.
The members of the program group contribute to the promotion of Slovenia by publishing research results in the most reputable scientific journals, organizing international events and collaborating with several research institutions around the world.
Research results will be used for the modernization of the curricula of different courses at the UL and different courses for practicing engineers with the main aim to improve the design practice. The members of our research group train PhD students for professional careers in business sector, research institutes, higher-education and government institutions.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
