Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER)

U.S. Earthquake Center Partners With Taiwan Center on Seismic Retrofits

The University of Buffalo Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) initiated a collaborative study of the seismic retrofit of acute care facilities, one of the EERC's main thrusts, with National Taiwan University and the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) in Taiwan.

Together, the teams investigated the seismic performance of buildings with shear-plated walls that are designed and fabricated using low yield-strength steel panels with reduced beam sections that are added to the beam ends.

MCEER researchers designed four specimens that met these criteria and tested them at NCREE's laboratory in conjunction with its researchers. The researchers found that this configuration is a viable way to build resistance to the lateral loads that occur during earthquakes. The American and Taiwanese centers are now working together to develop reliable models that can analytically capture the observed behavior. They are also studying how this system enhances the seismic performance of nonstructural components in acute care facilities.

To learn more about this topic:
Visit the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research web page at http://mceer.buffalo.edu/

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Last modified: February 18, 2005