On Thursday, April 25, from 16:00 to 17:15 CET, a SUZI lecture titled "Damage to Non-Structural Building Elements Caused by Earthquakes and Strengthening Techniques" was held in Serbian via the Zoom platform.
The speakers were Prof. Dr Svetlana Nikolić Brzev, Civil Eng., Asst. Prof. Dr Marko Marinković, Civil Eng., and Mario Todorić, Civil Eng.
Below you can find the lecture abstract, speaker biographies, video recording, and presentation slides.
Abstract
Non-structural elements are connected to the structural system either in the horizontal and/or vertical plane. Although these elements are not part of the load-bearing system, they are still subjected to accelerations and displacements caused by seismic activity. Damage to non-structural elements typically does not affect the structural integrity during an earthquake; however, it can lead to injuries and even fatalities—sometimes during lower-intensity earthquakes—such as the 2010 Kraljevo earthquake and the 2022 Zagreb earthquake.
In low-rise buildings, damage or collapse of chimneys and/or roof coverings (e.g., clay tiles) is most common. Recent earthquakes in Albania (November 2019) and Turkey (February 2023) have shown that many mid-rise residential buildings with reinforced concrete frame structures and masonry infill walls suffered significant damage to non-structural components (e.g., infill walls, partition walls, and brick façades).
Even though the structural elements of these buildings remained largely intact, occupants were forced to evacuate due to damage to non-structural elements. Of particular importance is the behavior and damage mechanism of infill walls in reinforced concrete structures, which, due to their interaction with the structural frame, can influence the building's overall seismic performance.
The aim of this lecture is to describe the causes of damage to non-structural elements during earthquakes, depending on whether their behavior is governed by spectral accelerations or inter-story drifts. Additionally, the lecture presents strengthening techniques for non-structural elements to prevent their damage or collapse during seismic events.
This lecture is intended for practicing engineers, as well as civil engineering and architecture students.
Speaker Biography
Prof. Dr Svetlana Nikolić-Brzev has 40 years of international professional experience in the seismic analysis, design, and strengthening of reinforced concrete and masonry structures. Since 2017, she has been an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, where she teaches courses in the design of masonry structures.
She previously taught for 16 years at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and worked for Sandwell Engineering in Vancouver on seismic retrofit projects for public infrastructure in Canada and abroad. Her professional career began as a researcher at the Institute for Materials Testing of Serbia (IMS), where she worked from 1985 to 1993.
Dr Brzev is a member of the Technical Committee for the development of the Canadian masonry design standard (CSA S304), as well as a member of the Technical Committee for seismic design of masonry structures for the new generation of Eurocode 8.
She has authored over 100 scientific and professional papers and is a co-author of three textbooks on masonry and reinforced concrete design widely used in Canada.
She holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Belgrade (1984 and 1989), and earned her Ph.D. in Earthquake Engineering from the University of Roorkee, India (1994).
Dr Brzev has served as the President of SUZI (Association for Earthquake Engineering in Serbia) since its founding in 2018.
Asst. Prof. Dr Marko Marinković enrolled in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Belgrade in 2012, within the Structural Engineering module. He defended his Ph.D. thesis in 2018. As part of his doctoral research, in collaboration with his advisor Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Butenweg, he co-invented a solution that was patented at the European Patent Office (EP3363968 (A1)).
Since 2019, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Technical Mechanics and Structural Theory at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade.
Dr Marinković's research and professional focus lies in seismic analysis of structures, including reinforced concrete, masonry, and steel structures. He participated in an international research project on the testing of steel industrial buildings on shaking tables at EUCENTRE in Pavia, Italy.
He is the author of over 35 scientific papers published in national and international journals and presented at conferences. He serves as a reviewer for five international journals and is a member of the CEN/TC 250/SC8/TG3 working group, established by the European Commission to prepare the next generation of Eurocodes.
Dr Marinković is also an active member of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE), contributing to Working Group 13 (Seismic Assessment, Design, and Resilience of Industrial Facilities).
Mario Todorić, M.Sc. Civil Engineering, has over 35 years of professional experience in design and supervision within the civil engineering field. He has held the title of Licensed Civil Engineer since its introduction in 1999. Throughout his career, he has participated in the construction of numerous buildings of various purposes both in Croatia and abroad, covering sectors such as civil engineering, energy, industry, transportation, and tourism.
He is an officially appointed Design Reviewer by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of Croatia, responsible for verifying structural projects in terms of mechanical resistance and stability of concrete and masonry structures.
Since 2012, he has also been licensed by the Ministry of Culture to carry out works related to the protection and conservation of cultural heritage. He has been actively engaged in the restoration and seismic strengthening of heritage-listed buildings.
Mr. Todorić regularly contributes to professional conferences and symposiums. He is a member of the Committee for Amendments to the Technical Regulation for Building Structures and an expert working group member involved in drafting the Law on Post-Earthquake Reconstruction.
His core area of expertise includes reinforced concrete and masonry structures, as well as earthquake engineering. For his outstanding contributions in the field of structural engineering, he received the KOLOS Award in 2013, an honor bestowed by the Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers.
He is the author of several technical articles on seismic design and one of the editors and contributors to the monograph "Earthquake Engineering – Restoration of Masonry Buildings" and the manual UPPO – Urgent Earthquake Recovery Program.
Following the 2020 earthquake in Zagreb and surrounding areas, he participated in post-earthquake damage assessments, reconstruction efforts for numerous buildings, and the founding of the Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering (HCPI), where he currently serves as a member of the Governing Board, actively contributing to the advancement of earthquake engineering in Croatia.
Lecture Slides - Dr Svetlana Brzev
Lecture Slides - Mario Todorić
Lecture Slides - Dr Marko Marinković
On Thursday, April 25, from 16:00 to 17:15 CET, a SUZI lecture titled "Damage to Non-Structural Building Elements Caused by Earthquakes and Strengthening Techniques" was held in Serbian via the Zoom platform.
The speakers were Prof. Dr Svetlana Nikolić Brzev, Civil Eng., Asst. Prof. Dr Marko Marinković, Civil Eng., and Mario Todorić, Civil Eng.
Below you can find the lecture abstract, speaker biographies, video recording, and presentation slides.
Abstract
Non-structural elements are connected to the structural system either in the horizontal and/or vertical plane. Although these elements are not part of the load-bearing system, they are still subjected to accelerations and displacements caused by seismic activity. Damage to non-structural elements typically does not affect the structural integrity during an earthquake; however, it can lead to injuries and even fatalities—sometimes during lower-intensity earthquakes—such as the 2010 Kraljevo earthquake and the 2022 Zagreb earthquake.
In low-rise buildings, damage or collapse of chimneys and/or roof coverings (e.g., clay tiles) is most common. Recent earthquakes in Albania (November 2019) and Turkey (February 2023) have shown that many mid-rise residential buildings with reinforced concrete frame structures and masonry infill walls suffered significant damage to non-structural components (e.g., infill walls, partition walls, and brick façades).
Even though the structural elements of these buildings remained largely intact, occupants were forced to evacuate due to damage to non-structural elements. Of particular importance is the behavior and damage mechanism of infill walls in reinforced concrete structures, which, due to their interaction with the structural frame, can influence the building's overall seismic performance.
The aim of this lecture is to describe the causes of damage to non-structural elements during earthquakes, depending on whether their behavior is governed by spectral accelerations or inter-story drifts. Additionally, the lecture presents strengthening techniques for non-structural elements to prevent their damage or collapse during seismic events.
This lecture is intended for practicing engineers, as well as civil engineering and architecture students.
Speaker Biography
Prof. Dr Svetlana Nikolić-Brzev has 40 years of international professional experience in the seismic analysis, design, and strengthening of reinforced concrete and masonry structures. Since 2017, she has been an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, where she teaches courses in the design of masonry structures.
She previously taught for 16 years at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and worked for Sandwell Engineering in Vancouver on seismic retrofit projects for public infrastructure in Canada and abroad. Her professional career began as a researcher at the Institute for Materials Testing of Serbia (IMS), where she worked from 1985 to 1993.
Dr Brzev is a member of the Technical Committee for the development of the Canadian masonry design standard (CSA S304), as well as a member of the Technical Committee for seismic design of masonry structures for the new generation of Eurocode 8.
She has authored over 100 scientific and professional papers and is a co-author of three textbooks on masonry and reinforced concrete design widely used in Canada.
She holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Belgrade (1984 and 1989), and earned her Ph.D. in Earthquake Engineering from the University of Roorkee, India (1994).
Dr Brzev has served as the President of SUZI (Association for Earthquake Engineering in Serbia) since its founding in 2018.
Asst. Prof. Dr Marko Marinković enrolled in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Belgrade in 2012, within the Structural Engineering module. He defended his Ph.D. thesis in 2018. As part of his doctoral research, in collaboration with his advisor Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christoph Butenweg, he co-invented a solution that was patented at the European Patent Office (EP3363968 (A1)).
Since 2019, he has been serving as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Technical Mechanics and Structural Theory at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade.
Dr Marinković's research and professional focus lies in seismic analysis of structures, including reinforced concrete, masonry, and steel structures. He participated in an international research project on the testing of steel industrial buildings on shaking tables at EUCENTRE in Pavia, Italy.
He is the author of over 35 scientific papers published in national and international journals and presented at conferences. He serves as a reviewer for five international journals and is a member of the CEN/TC 250/SC8/TG3 working group, established by the European Commission to prepare the next generation of Eurocodes.
Dr Marinković is also an active member of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering (EAEE), contributing to Working Group 13 (Seismic Assessment, Design, and Resilience of Industrial Facilities).
Mario Todorić, M.Sc. Civil Engineering, has over 35 years of professional experience in design and supervision within the civil engineering field. He has held the title of Licensed Civil Engineer since its introduction in 1999. Throughout his career, he has participated in the construction of numerous buildings of various purposes both in Croatia and abroad, covering sectors such as civil engineering, energy, industry, transportation, and tourism.
He is an officially appointed Design Reviewer by the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets of Croatia, responsible for verifying structural projects in terms of mechanical resistance and stability of concrete and masonry structures.
Since 2012, he has also been licensed by the Ministry of Culture to carry out works related to the protection and conservation of cultural heritage. He has been actively engaged in the restoration and seismic strengthening of heritage-listed buildings.
Mr. Todorić regularly contributes to professional conferences and symposiums. He is a member of the Committee for Amendments to the Technical Regulation for Building Structures and an expert working group member involved in drafting the Law on Post-Earthquake Reconstruction.
His core area of expertise includes reinforced concrete and masonry structures, as well as earthquake engineering. For his outstanding contributions in the field of structural engineering, he received the KOLOS Award in 2013, an honor bestowed by the Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers.
He is the author of several technical articles on seismic design and one of the editors and contributors to the monograph "Earthquake Engineering – Restoration of Masonry Buildings" and the manual UPPO – Urgent Earthquake Recovery Program.
Following the 2020 earthquake in Zagreb and surrounding areas, he participated in post-earthquake damage assessments, reconstruction efforts for numerous buildings, and the founding of the Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering (HCPI), where he currently serves as a member of the Governing Board, actively contributing to the advancement of earthquake engineering in Croatia.
Lecture Slides - Dr Svetlana Brzev
Lecture Slides - Mario Todorić
Lecture Slides - Dr Marko Marinković
