Damage from earthquakes can be subdivided into direct damage and indirect damage. Direct damage is the physical damage due to the earthquake. Direct damage includes primary damage due to strong shaking and fault rupture and secondary damage due to the effects of strong shaking or fault rupture. Indirect damage refers to the socio-economic impacts of an earthquake. The economic component of indirect damage often exceeds the economic consequences of direct damage from a major earthquake. Primary damage includes damage due to fault rupture and strong shaking. While fault rupture can cause significant damage to facilities built on or across the fault, the extent of the area impacted by fault rupture is relatively small as it is limited to the immediate vicinity of the rupture zone. Seismic hazard analysis is the process by which the appropriate ground motions (or ground motion parameters) are established for seismic design. Site characterization for the seismic design of geotechnical transportation features, including structural foundations, earth retaining structures, earthworks, and underground structures. The relevant soil parameters for seismic site characterization, their importance for seismic analyses, and the available evaluation techniques are described in detail in this course. This course material is based on FHWA Publication Number FHWA-NHI-11-032: LRFD Seismic Analysis and Design of Transportation Geotechnical Features and Structural Foundations Chapter Number 1, Chapter Number 2, Chapter Number 3, and Chapter Number 4.

At the conclusion of this course, the learner will have a better understanding about the Earthquake Damage Categories and Engineering Seismology for Hazard Analysis as  well as the following:

• Knowledge of Earthquake Damage Categories
• Understanding about AASHTO Seismic Design Philosophy
• Knowledge of Earthquake Fundamentals and Engineering Seismology
• Knowledge of Seismic Waves and Parameters Describing Earthquake Size
• Knowledge of Seismic Hazard Analysis and Ground Motion Characterization
• Understanding Site Characterization and Subsurface Profile Development
• Evaluation of Soil and Rock Properties for Seismic Analysis
• Understanding Rock Mass Properties