A Review of Suggested Updates for Eurocode 8

Synopsis

The various parts of Eurocode 8 (Design of structures for earthquake resistance) were published in 2004 and 2005. In contrast with US seismic codes, Eurocode 8 presented an integrated approach to the seismic design of the most common structural materials and to many different forms of construction type, including buildings, bridges, pipelines and various types of industrial structure. Moreover, some aspects of the code represented some major innovations compared with what was previously available. Because the change from national to European codes represented such a radical change for European structural engineers, it was decided that all the standards in the Eurocode suite should be subject to a relatively long period of stability, when only corrections or minor amendments would be permitted. However, a period of review has now started which is expected to lead to more extensive revisions being published around 2019. It will be no surprise to learn that the European Commission funding for this exercise will be very limited.

The speakers will present an update on the current state of the revision process for Eurocode 8, and give their ideas on the aspects that they would like to see changed, not just in the current review process but in the longer term too. They presented these ideas at the 15th World Conference of Earthquake Engineering last year. Their paper was reprinted in the recent edition of the SECED Newsletter, as an introduction to this meeting.

The speakers hope that this will stimulate a lively debate on both the positive and negative experience from practicing engineers and suggestions as to what needs changing. It is important that contributors not only consider seismic design in the UK but (more especially) seismic design by UK based engineers for projects in areas of moderate to high seismicity.

About the speakers

Edmund Booth is an independent structural engineer specialising in earthquake resistant design. He chairs the BSI committee responsible for the UK input to Eurocode 8.

Ziggy Lubkowski is an Associate Director at Arup, and is their seismic skills leader for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He is SECED’s representative on the BSI committee responsible for the UK input to Eurocode 8 and TC250/SC7 on the interplay between Eurocode 7 and Eurocode 8.

Further information

This meeting will be introduced by Dr Andrew Mair (Jacobs). Emeritus Professor David Nethercot, OBE, FREng, has agreed to chair the discussion following the presentation. David currently chairs the main BSI committee on the Eurocodes and recently retired as Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London. In order to ensure that the debate is as well informed as possible, it would be helpful if as many members as possible could read the paper by Edmund Booth and Ziggy Lubkowski which will form the basis of their presentation. That paper was reproduced in the most recent (January 2013) issue of the SECED Newsletter, and can also be downloadedhere.

This meeting will be preceded by the SECED AGM at 17:00 & the EEFIT AGM at 17:15. Non-members of the society are welcome to attend. Please note that there is no charge to attend. Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Tea and biscuits will be served from 17:30 - 18:00pm. For further information please contact the SECED Secretary.