ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the structural and architectural or nonstructural performance of various types of building systems to earthquake-induced ground motions and the performance of lifelines to the faulting and ground vibration hazards of an earthquake. Classes of dynamic tests that are used to determine the response of existing structures and foundation materials to exciting forces are also described. The quality of earthquake-resistant design and construction will almost entirely determine whether or not strong ground shaking will produce a disaster in terms of loss of life, economic losses, or public hardship. Detailed engineering damage surveys have been completed for a number of contemporary earthquakes. An accurate knowledge of how existing structures and foundation materials respond to the strong vibratory motions of damaging earthquakes is fundamental for the advancement of antiseismic engineering. The regions were selected on the basis of population density, location of buildings already instrumented, and the probability for damaging earthquakes.
