Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER)

Webpage Takes Earthquake Engineering Out of Labs and Online

As part of its effort to develop educational modules to train the next generation of earthquake engineers, the University of Buffalo Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) developed the Java-based Virtual Laboratories for Earthquake Engineering (VLEE). MCEER collaborated with the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center and the Mid-America Earthquake Center to produce these online resources for earthquake engineering education.

The VLEE modules help foster an understanding of a wide range of topics related to earthquake engineering so that students can learn how changes in design can improve the seismic performance of the structures. VLEE allows users to compare the effect of using various control systems-such as tuned mass dampers, hybrid mass dampers, and linear and nonlinear base isolation systems-to reduce the structural response of an "uncontrolled" structure subjected to earthquake excitation. Users can vary the control system properties and objectives, and can perform "what-if" studies to better understand the design process and its use in mitigating the earthquake response. The modules can calculate and animate the structural responses to various past earthquakes, using historical records. About 500 students and practitioners from around the world visit these virtual laboratories each month via the Internet.

To learn more about this topic:
Visit the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research web site at http://mceer.buffalo.edu/publications/resaccom/0304/13_spencer.pdf.

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Last modified: February 14, 2005