The main objective of the course is for the architect to obtain a basic technical know how regarding the visualization, design and construction of civil engineering structures. The design of structures has to comply with the demands of the occasional user and at the same time ensure protection of human lives and limitation of damage.
More precisely, the course provides information about the seismic response of buildings. The relation between the conceptual design (of bearing as well as of non-bearing elements) andtheseismicresponseofbuildingsis pointed out. Directions are given for the design of structures based on regularity criteria, aiming at uniform seismic energy dissipation, and improvement of ductility. Finally the principles for dimensioning at ultimate limit states (failure and serviceability), as well as information about reinforcement detailing are given.