Role of engineers in seismic design and detailing of reinforced concrete buildings in Australia

Australia is not immune to earthquakes and history proves their future location and magnitude cannot be predicted. To ensure life safety in a somewhat uncertain seismic environment, the appropriate design and detailing of reinforced concrete structures will provide a level of resilience so that in a rarer seismic event, the risk of a total collapse of the structure is ideally avoided. To design structures economically for the significantly higher earthquake loads, most of the loading is carried by the inelastic response of the structure. This is why the correct design and detailing of reinforcement to AS 3600, to provide structures with the ductility to respond inelastically to extreme seismic events, is so important. The new SRIA ‘Guide to Seismic Design and Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Buildings in Australia’, is intended to provide guidance on seismic design principles to graduates, practicing engineers with little seismic experience and senior engineers requiring refreshment on the delicate balance between life safety and the client’s cash flow. As Engineers have a role to communicate seismic risk to the community and reduce seismic risk for the community, this publication provides a valuable resource as it contains lists of questions that should be considered in design. © 2017 Engineers Australia.