1. Project Goals/Objectives:

The goal of this project is to enhance at an international level the exchange of the latest research and professional practice information on performance-based earthquake engineering.

2. Role of this project in supporting PEER’s mission (vision):

This project serves the PEER strategic plan by promoting more rapid development and exchange of performance-based earthquake engineering technologies among leading practitioners and researchers. Ongoing PEER research project personnel are encouraged to accelerate presentation of their findings, and overall project information is enhanced by introducing knowledge and ideas developing outside PEER.

3. Methodology Employed:

The project is accomplished by convening a meeting involving major researchers and practitioners in the field of performance-based earthquake engineering. At the meeting, researchers and practitioners present their latest results, engage in lively discussion, and suggest new directions and research needs. Given the strong and coordinated programs in the US and Japan, most participants are from those countries. The U.S. and Japanese participants share many similar views on the broad value of performance-based earthquake engineering. However, details of their perspectives are markedly different; bringing together these diverse ideas leads to enhanced thinking about performance-based earthquake engineering.

4. Brief Description of past year’s accomplishments (Year 6) & more detail on expected Year 7 accomplishments:

This project is a continuation of prior projects that hosted the 1st through 4th US-Japan Workshops on Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering for Reinforced Concrete Building Structures. The previous workshops (Maui, September 1999; Sapporo, September 2000; Seattle, August 2001; Toba, September 2002) resulted in publication of important symposium proceedings including all presented papers.

This past year we convened the 5th Workshop in Hakone, Japan (October, 2003). The meeting was timed and located to coincide with the International Symposium Honoring Prof. Shunsuke Otani, entitled Performance-Based Engineering for Earthquake Resistant Reinforced Concrete Structures, co-sponsored by PEER and the University of Tokyo. By aligning with that meeting, we were able to attract a broader pool of attendees. The meeting included plenary sessions, breakout sessions on specific topics, closing presentations by selected individuals, and resolutions.

PEER Director Jack Moehle organized the meeting for the U.S. side. PEER provides travel funds for all US participants, which include PEER researchers, PEER Business and Industry Partners, and other selected researchers from the US. The Japan-side organizer is Professor Toshimi Kabeyasawa of the University of Tokyo.

Figure 1 – Participants in the 5th Workshop

Front Row: Cathy French, Hiroshi Noguchi, Tetsuo Kubo, Toshimi Kabeyasawa. Middle Row: Masaki Maeda, Mete Sozen, Helmut Krawinkler, Jack Moehle, Kazuhiro Kitayama, Mary Beth Hueste, Chris Pantelides, Marc Eberhard, Hitoshi Shiohara, Sarah Billington, Toshikatsu Ichinose, Shinsuke Nakata, Shunsuke Otani. Back Row: Daisuke Kato, Akira Tasai, Akenori Shibata, James Jirsa, Marc Eberhard, Michael Kreger, James Wight, Eric Williamson, Mason Walters, Troy Morgan, Manabu Yoshimura, Michael Fardis. Not shown: Shunsuke Sugano

5. Other Similar Work Being Conducted Within and Outside PEER and How This Project Differs:

This project exists to enhance ongoing research in many PEER projects related to performance-based earthquake engineering or concrete buildings. Individuals in several countries are doing research and practice of performance-based earthquake engineering. We aim to include key researchers and practitioners as part of the program.

6. Plans for Year 8 if project is expected to be continued:

The plan is to continue this effort by supporting a workshop on performance-based earthquake engineering in Bled, Slovenia in June-July 2004, and then possibly restart the US-Japan effort.

7. Describe any actual instances where you are aware your results have been used in industry:

Results of the workshop have been published and widely distributed. We are aware of use of models for column shear and axial failure being used for building assessment. Results of simplified nonlinear analysis papers (Seattle workshop) have been implemented directly into ATC 55 and are seeing wide application.

8. Expected Milestones & Deliverables:

Proceedings for the 5th Workshop have been published in March 2004. Additional work for Year 7 includes planning for the Bled workshop, soliciting papers, convening the meeting, and publishing the proceedings.