INFORMATION ABOUT POLISH ACTIVITY IN THE FIELD OF SEISMIC AND PARASEISMIC ENGINEERING

Polish territory is situated out of immediate seismic thread. Unlike its neighbouring countries (Germany, Czech and Slovak Republics, and Republics of former Soviet Union) Poland has not introduced any seismic code for design of civil engineering structures, though at least some parts of South of Poland indicate minor seismic activity. In fact some lowest zones of neighbouring countries end at Polish border. In spite of this many Polish engineers and scientists are interested in seismic engineering. There are at least two main reasons for this:

1. Paraseismic effects,
2. Substantial export of Polish Civil Engineering activity to the countries of strong seismicity.

Paraseismic effects from mine quakes and industrial blasts make a constant thread in many Polish cities. It is so because mining industry still has a substantial contribution in Polish economy. In addition to this traffic induced vibrations are sources of constant problems in many towns. These problems led to an introduction of special design code for paraseismic effects on structures.

The main forums for Polish engineers and scientists, for information exchange in the field of seismic engineering are Conferences and Symposia organised by Institute of Structural Mechanics of Cracow University of Technology. Up to now there were eight such conferences:

Usually 50-100 participants join these conferences. For each Conference a proceedings volume has been published in Polish language, including abstracts in English. In addition to Polish engineers and scientists leading foreign specialists are being invited to present keynote lectures.

A constant experimental and theoretical research in seismic and paraseismic engineering is being carried out in Institute of Structural Mechanics, Cracow University of Technology by a research group guided by professor Roman Ciesielski. Similar research is being carried out by Institute of Building Technology in Warsaw and by Central Mining Institute in Katowice. The main objectives of the research carried out by these Institutions are safety and serviceability of residential buildings subjected to mine quakes as well as reduction of traffic induced vibrations of structures. In addition to this, research and various expertise are provided for Polish companies exporting building technology to countries with strong seismicity. Some theoretical research and international cooperation in this field is being carried out in selected Polish Technical Universities (e.g. in Opole and Koszalin).

Until 1995 no organisation framework was provided for the research in seismic engineering. During the Conference on Seismic and Paraseismic Effects on Structures in November 1994 a Research Group for Seismic and Paraseismic Effects on Structures has been initiated. In 1995 this group has been affiliated at the Committee of Civil Engineering of Polish Academy of Sciences. The Executive Committee of the Group consists of:

This Research group is opened to any individual persons working in the field of seismic engineering in Poland. Its latest meeting took place on November 14th 1997 during the 8th Symposium on Seismic and Paraseismic Engineering in Cracow.