Seismic Design Guidelines for Port Structures

Book excerpt: For the first time, international guidelines for seismic design of port structures have been compiled in this comprehensive book. These guidelines address the limitations inherent in conventional design, and establish the framework for an evolutionary design strategy based on seismic response and performance requirements. The provisions reflect the diverse nature of port facilities throughout the world, where the required functions of port structures, economic and social environment, and seismic activities may differ from region to region. This book comprises a main text and eight technical commentaries. The main text introduces the reader to basic earthquake engineering concepts and a strategy for performance-based design, while the technical commentaries illustrate specific aspects of seismic analysis and design, and provide examples of various applications of the guidelines. Proven simplified methods and state-of-the-art analysis procedures have been carefully selected and integrated in the guidelines in order to provide a flexible and consistent methodology for the seismic design of port facilities.