Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
A Berkeley Virtual Short Course Series
January, February and March 2025 (LIVE) & Recorded
Where: Online via ZOOM platform
why this course SERIES
Berkeley pioneered many of the advances in geotechnical earthquake engineering over the last six decades in large part under the leadership of the late Professor H. Bolton Seed. The Berkeley Faculty continue to be leaders in developing concepts and procedures instrumental to advancing the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering. Key elements of Berkeley's highly rated Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering graduate course are being made available through this short course series. Similar short courses have been offered previously around the world, and they have been well received by practicing engineers, government regulators, and researchers.
This series of three short course focuses on key concepts and recent advances in geotechnical earthquake engineering. In the first short course module, engineering seismicity is reviewed with a focus on characterizing and selecting design ground motions. Seismic site response procedures, including evaluating dynamic soil properties, are discussed. In the second short course module, soil liquefaction is explored. Field and laboratory observations of the cyclic response of soils are discussed. Simplified liquefaction triggering procedures are presented. Focus is placed on the effects of liquefaction through evaluation of the residual shear strength of liquefied material and liquefaction-induced ground displacements and their effects on structures. Mitigation techniques are presented. In the third short course module, seismic considerations related to seismic slope stability, dams, levees, embankments and retaining systems are presented. Some example problems are solved to illustrate the primary issues involved in evaluating geotechnical earthquake hazards. Question and answer sessions provide opportunities to discuss selected concepts in greater detail. Each attendee will be given course notes that support the lectures.
Instructors
Adda Athanasopoulos-Zekkos, PhD
University of California at Berkeley (Lead Instructor)
Jonathan D. Bray, PhD, PE, NAE
University of California at Berkeley (Lead Instructor)
Dimitrios Zekkos, PhD, PE
University of California at Berkeley (Lead Instructor)
Norman Abrahamson, PhD, NAE
University of California at Berkeley (Instructor)
Robert Kayen, PhD, PE
USGS [retired] and University of California at Berkeley (Instructor)
Nicholas Sitar, PhD, P. Eng
University of California at Berkeley (Instructor)
Thaleia Travasarou, PhD, PE, GE
Fugro
Course SERIES Objectives
Module 1 Course Objectives:
The objective of Module 1 is to present the State of the Art and Practice on seismic site response. Specific course objectives:
1. Considerations in conducting a DSHA and a PSHA
2. Considerations in ground motion selection and modification
3. Selection of dynamic soil properties and seismic site response analyses
Module 2 Course Objectives:
The objective of Module 2 is to present the State of the Art and Practice on soil liquefaction engineering. Specific course objectives:
1. Understand the state concept of soil response in drained and undrained shear under monotonic and cyclic loading
2. Perform liquefaction triggering assessments using state-of-the-practice tools and procedures and interpret the results
3. Evaluate the effects of soil liquefaction on the ground and structures
Module 3 Course Objectives:
The objective of Module 3 is to present the State of the Art and Practice on the seismic performance of Slopes and Earth Structures. Specific course objectives:
1. The seismic stability considerations for natural hillslopes and engineered earth slopes
2. The seismic stability considerations for the seismic analyses of dams, tailings dams, levees and landfills
3. The seismic performance of retaining structures, the calculation of seismic earth pressures calculation and seismic displacement of walls
courses outline
MODULE 1, JANUARY 27-30, 2025: EARTHQUAKE GROUND MOTIONS & SEISMIC SITE RESPONSE
Part 1: Earthquake Ground Motions
Introduction – Welcome
Engineering Seismicity
Earthquake Engineering
Deterministic Earthquake Ground Motions
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment
Design Ground Motions
Part 2: Dynamic Properties
Dynamic Soil Properties
Soil Response under Shear
Part 3: Site Response & Site Effects
Seismic Site Effects
Seismic Site Response Analysis
MODULE 2, FEBRUARY 24-27, 2025: LIQUEFACTION ENGINEERING
Part 1: Soil Liquefaction & Triggering
State Concept
Cyclic Response of Sand
Key Factors Affecting Liquefaction Triggering
Liquefaction Investigation Tools
CPT-Based Liquefaction Procedures
Part 2: Evaluating Liquefaction Effects
Other Liquefaction Triggering Procedures
Liquefaction Evaluation of Silt and Gravel
Liquefaction Ground Settlement, Lateral Spreading & Ejecta
Residual Shear Strength of Liquefied Soil
Liquefaction Effects on Structures
MODULE 3, MARCH 17-20, 2025: SEISMIC PERFORMANCE OF SLOPES AND EARTH STRUCTURES
Part 1: Seismic Performance of Slopes and Dams
Observations of Seismic Slope Stability of Slopes and Cliffs
Seismic Slope Stability
System-Level Frameworks for Seismic Stability Assessments
Observations and Dynamic Analyses of dams
Seismic Performance of Tailings Dams
Part 2: Levees and Waste Landfills
Observations and Dynamic Analyses of Levees
Seismic Performance of Waste Landfills
Part 3: Retaining Systems
Seismic Performance & Assessment of Retaining & Basement Walls
Seismic Earth Pressures
Course CONTENT DELIVERY METHOD
By registering to any of the courses you can get the course content in two ways:
Live (synchronous) from 12:30 to 16:00 Pacific Standard Time on January 27 - 30, 2025 (Module 1), February 24 - 27, 2025 (Module 2), and March 17 - 20, 2025 (Module 3).
Recorded lectures that will remain available for one month after the Live version of each course. This has been shown to facilitate particularly participants in different time zones.
In addition, the courses include significant time for discussion and consultations in joint rooms and break-out rooms with the instructors.
DELIVERABLES
14 hrs of online lectures for each module – Available for real-time during the course delivery as well as non-real-time (i.e., asynchronous). Registered participants will be able to view the presentations for an entire month following the completion of the course through a password-protected website.
All course slides
Recommended Technical literature for each specific technology/theme
Certificate of attendance by the Short Course Organizer
Certificate for 8 PDH hours (separate for each module)
COURSE COST
The cost of each four half-day course is $985. A limited number of spots are available for students (with a 35% price reduction) after coordination with the short course leader.
A 10% reduction in cost is provided for 3-4 registrations and a 20% off for 5+ registrations (if paid at the same time during course registration).
A 50% reduction in cost for the third module is provided to users that will register in all three modules (if paid at the same time during course registration).
Refund Policy: Course registration can be fully refunded based on requests made until two weeks before each short course. Specifically, until January 13, 2025 for the first module and the whole series, until February 10, 2025 for the second module, and until March 3 2025 for the third module.
COURSE REGISTRATION
Registration deadline is January 20, 2025 for the first module and the whole series, February 17, 2025 for the second module, and March 10, 2025 for the third module, unless the course becomes fully-booked earlier.
CONTACT
For questions related to this short course, please contact the short course leader Prof. Dimitrios Zekkos (zekkos@berkeley.edu)