Robustness of Structures

Abstract

Robustness of structures has been one of the areas at the forefront of research in structural engineering, particularly in the last decade. Several initiatives including those led by the Joint Committee on Structural Safety (JCSS) have been taken to conceptualize, develop and intensify research activities in this direction. Achieving “adequate robustness” is today recognized as an integral part of best practice structural system design; however, in present code based design and assessment procedures this is not spelt out in specific or practical detail. Also there is no agreement on what constitutes adequate or acceptable robustness for a structure placed in a given environment. Further, the present-day design focus on structural member performance and individual failure modes as prescribed in codes of practice strongly drives home the need to specifically consider overall structure/system performance and system effects for the meaningful assessment of a system relevant property such as robustness.

This mini symposium aims to address the above issues, looking at specific approaches or solutions as well as the challenges that lie ahead. The other associated significant issues that will feature in this mini-symposium include the consideration of a) consequences of failures or adverse events and b) life safety and damage to the environment, in the assessment of robustness. Also practical recommendations and normative measures to improve and/or ensure robustness in structures will be presented and discussed.

Organizers

Harikrishna Narasimhan, ETH Zurich, Switzerland (harikrishna@ibk.baug.ethz.ch)
Ton Vrouwenvelder, TU-Delft, the Netherlands
John D. Sørensen, Aalborg University, Denmark
Michael H. Faber, ETH Zurich, Switzerland