Research talk "Seismic resistant earthen constructions" - Dr. Nicola Tarque - Wednesday, September 28th, 16:30-17:30

Dear Colleagues,

Dear Students,

I would like to inform you about the research talk that will be delivered by Dr. Nicola Tarque, from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), entitled “Seismic resistant earthen constructions”, that will take place Wednesday, September 28th, between 16:30 and 17:30, in room B016. The summary of the talk along with a short biography of Dr. Tarque are included here:

Seismic resistant earthen constructions: In Peru almost 40% of all constructions are made of earth (adobe, tapial, quincha), most of them have high seismic vulnerability. In recent earthquakes, important economic losses and fatalities were recorded due to the collapse of dwellings. A group of researchers from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú have been studying possible seismic retrofitting systems to improve the seismic behavior of these dwellings. The aim of the research talk is to show a summary of the work carried out at PUCP on this issue, including experimental results and a procedure proposed for the seismic retrofitting design.

Nicola Tarque is an Associate Professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP). He has been involved in projects related to reinforced and unreinforced masonry (adobe, stone, fired brick) and he has been in charge of dynamic tests of full-scale adobe houses at PUCP. His latest research deal with displacement-based seismic risk assessment of adobe dwellings, with numerical modelling of masonry structures and expected ground motions at historical sites as part as the Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Those interested in the topic are invited to participate.

Best regards,

Humberto Varum