On Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 16:00 to 17:00 (CET), in English via the Zoom platform, the SAEE lecture "Seismic behaviour and design of floor diaphragms: from experimental evidence to engineering practice" was held.
The lecture was delivered by Andrea Belleri, PhD, from Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Bergamo, Italy.
Below you will find the lecture abstract, the speaker biography, lecture slides, as well as the recording of the presentation.
Abstract:
Floor diaphragms play a key role in the seismic response of buildings, as they govern the transfer and distribution of horizontal forces among vertical resisting elements. However, a large portion of the European building stock includes floor systems originally designed to carry gravity loads only, with often uncertain in-plane stiffness and strength. This issue becomes particularly critical in the context of seismic assessment and retrofit, where diaphragms are required to ensure effective load transfer and proper global structural interaction. Within this framework, the seminar presents and discusses experimental evidence on the in-plane behaviour of different floor systems, including precast concrete diaphragms tested at the system level and beam-and-block floors representative of existing construction. The observed mechanisms, damage patterns, and governing parameters are used to highlight the limitations of conventional modelling assumptions and to identify the key factors controlling diaphragm performance. The seminar also provides an overview of the treatment of diaphragms in the upcoming generation of Eurocode 8, with emphasis on requirements, modelling aspects, and current limitations. Finally, simplified mechanical models are introduced to support the interpretation of experimental results and to provide practical tools for the preliminary seismic assessment of existing diaphragms.
Presenter biography:
Andrea Belleri is an Associate Professor in Structural Engineering at the University of Bergamo, where he also serves as Chair of the Degree Program in Building Engineering. His research focuses on seismic behavior and design of both new and existing structures, with particular emphasis on precast systems and re-centering solutions. His work combines experimental research, analytical modeling, and practical applications, addressing key topics such as the development of innovative earthquake-resistant structures and structural systems, performance-based design approaches including displacement-based methods, and the seismic response of existing buildings. He has been actively involved in experimental and applied research on structural systems, including the in-plane behavior of floor diaphragms, vulnerability assessment of industrial buildings, bridges, and historical structures, and the integration of structural and energy retrofitting strategies. In addition, he works on structural health monitoring and dynamic identification of infrastructures, using vibration-based techniques to assess structural performance and condition. He collaborates with several international research groups and has contributed to multiple research projects in seismic engineering. He is also co-founder of two academic spin-offs, aimed at transferring research outcomes into engineering practice and promoting innovation in the construction sector.
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 16:00 to 17:00 (CET), in English via the Zoom platform, the SAEE lecture "Seismic behaviour and design of floor diaphragms: from experimental evidence to engineering practice" was held.
The lecture was delivered by Andrea Belleri, PhD, from Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Bergamo, Italy.
Below you will find the lecture abstract, the speaker biography, lecture slides, as well as the recording of the presentation.
Abstract:
Floor diaphragms play a key role in the seismic response of buildings, as they govern the transfer and distribution of horizontal forces among vertical resisting elements. However, a large portion of the European building stock includes floor systems originally designed to carry gravity loads only, with often uncertain in-plane stiffness and strength. This issue becomes particularly critical in the context of seismic assessment and retrofit, where diaphragms are required to ensure effective load transfer and proper global structural interaction. Within this framework, the seminar presents and discusses experimental evidence on the in-plane behaviour of different floor systems, including precast concrete diaphragms tested at the system level and beam-and-block floors representative of existing construction. The observed mechanisms, damage patterns, and governing parameters are used to highlight the limitations of conventional modelling assumptions and to identify the key factors controlling diaphragm performance. The seminar also provides an overview of the treatment of diaphragms in the upcoming generation of Eurocode 8, with emphasis on requirements, modelling aspects, and current limitations. Finally, simplified mechanical models are introduced to support the interpretation of experimental results and to provide practical tools for the preliminary seismic assessment of existing diaphragms.
Presenter biography:
Andrea Belleri is an Associate Professor in Structural Engineering at the University of Bergamo, where he also serves as Chair of the Degree Program in Building Engineering. His research focuses on seismic behavior and design of both new and existing structures, with particular emphasis on precast systems and re-centering solutions. His work combines experimental research, analytical modeling, and practical applications, addressing key topics such as the development of innovative earthquake-resistant structures and structural systems, performance-based design approaches including displacement-based methods, and the seismic response of existing buildings. He has been actively involved in experimental and applied research on structural systems, including the in-plane behavior of floor diaphragms, vulnerability assessment of industrial buildings, bridges, and historical structures, and the integration of structural and energy retrofitting strategies. In addition, he works on structural health monitoring and dynamic identification of infrastructures, using vibration-based techniques to assess structural performance and condition. He collaborates with several international research groups and has contributed to multiple research projects in seismic engineering. He is also co-founder of two academic spin-offs, aimed at transferring research outcomes into engineering practice and promoting innovation in the construction sector.
