The European collaborative network in earthquake engineering 'Innovative Concepts in Seismic Design of New and Existing Structures' was finally launched, three months behind schedule due to complex EU rules as applied to the contribution from and funding for JRC Ispra. The project, which includes some 12 research teams from Europe, deals with six topics; strong-motion, bridges, displacement-based design, repair and strengthening, RC walls and composite structures (Imperial College is contributing to bridges, repair and composite structures). Two researchers are working on this project, although one of them is not funded directly through ICONS for obvious reasons. These are Rui Pinho (BSc from Oporto; MSc in Earthquake Engineering 1995-96) and Masato Tsujii (Nippon Steel). There will be two sets of experiments carried out by IC personnel at Lisbon and Bristol. The tests at LNEC Lisbon is on testing RC walls in their intact and repaired states, using selective intervention techniques tested statically at IC some years ago. At Bristol, tests are scheduled on five two storey two bay frames in steel and composite construction. The objective being to evaluate experimentally force reduction factors and to calibrate analytical models.

The official starting date was 1 January 1997 and will run for three years.

Prof.Amr S.Elnashai