Seismology and Earthquake Engineering for Beginners

Name: Seismology and Earthquake Engineering for Beginners
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Seismology, Earthquake basic, Earth internal structure,Seismic Wave, Plate Tectonics, Resilient Design, Response spectra

Created byHarsha Mehta

Last updated 4/2025

English

What you'll learn

Understand the basic concepts of seismology, internal structure of earth, Elastic rebound theory, seismic waves, its propagation and velocity.
Have an idea of plate tectonics, active faults, How do earthquakes occur and their impact of on built environment.
Know about strong-ground-motion measurement using seismographs and accelerographs along with seismic moment, different magnitudes and epicentral distance.
Understand and estimate the ground motion parameters - magnitude, frequency, duration, Peak ground acceleration, velocity and displacement.
Evaluate and apply attenuation equation to find ground motion at site. To know about Soil- structure interaction including soil liquefaction and soil ampl
Understand Sesimic hazard, Seismic risk and seismic loading on structures. How can we reduce seismic risk and what we have learned from the past earthquakes?
Know about response spectrum, it’s important in building design, the different earthquake codes & earthquake design methods for safer structures.

Course content

3 sections • 18 lectures • 5h 35m total length

Introduction to Earthquake Engineering9:55
In this lecture, we are diving into the fascinating world of earthquakes, how they impact us, and how we can reduce those effects.
Internal Structure of Earth and Plate boundaries7:09
In this lecture, we will take a closer look at internal structure of the Earth and how plate boundaries play a crucial role in earthquake activity.
Elastic rebound theory and Seismic waves16:34
This lecture is to learn a key concept in seismology: the Elastic Rebound Theory, how earthquakes happen, their epicentre & hypocentre and the different types of seismic waves.
Seismic Hazards18:12
In this lecture, we will learn about the basics of Seismic Hazard.
Historical Earthquakes and Lessons learned25:00
In this lecture, we'll explore some of the most impactful earthquakes and what we've learned from them, especially in terms of building resilience, earthquake preparedness and designing and constructing earthquake resistant structures.
Practice Test 1
Assignment 1

Plate tectonics and faults23:11
In this lecture, we’ll dive into key concepts that form the foundation of seismology. We’ll explore continental drift, the theory of plate tectonics, and different types of plate boundaries. Additionally, we’ll examine faults—understanding their geometry, how plates move, and the mechanics behind fault activity. By the end of this lecture, we’ll also look at real-world examples of active faults, giving us insights into the role they play in seismic activity. These concepts will set the stage for understanding how and why earthquakes occur.
Active faults18:43
In this lecture we will learn about faults investigation, types of faults, faults movement and Active faults.
Earthquake recurrence and Tectonic Environment6:08
In this lecture, we will know about the relationship between fault movements and earthquake recurrence, seismic gaps as well as the broader tectonic environment in which these events take place.
Measurement and Recording of Earthquakes12:32
In this lecture, we will explore how earthquakes are measured and the importance of accurate recording. Proper measurement allows seismologists to determine the general direction of the seismic wave source, the magnitude at its origin. We will dive deeper into measurement and recording techniques to assess earthquake activity.
Impact of Earthquakes on Built Environment19:51
In the lecture, we will look at how earthquakes impact the built environment and what engineers can do to mitigate these risks.
Location and Size of earthquakes13:24
In this lecture, we'll explore how to determine the location of earthquakes and why understanding their size is crucial for assessing potential damage.
Other Sources of Seismic Activity12:57
we will explore other sources of seismic activity, including volcanic eruptions and human-induced events like mining, fracking, and reservoir-induced seismicity. These sources also contribute to the overall seismic risk and understanding them is key to seismic hazard analysis.
Quiz 1
Assignment 2

Ground Motion Parameters23:57
In this lecture, we’ll explore critical ground motion parameters such as magnitude, amplitude parameters such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and peak ground displacement (PGD), and their importance in earthquake engineering.
Ground motion and Soil-structure interaction16:12
This lecture coves the critical concept of Ground Motion and Soil-Structure Interaction, or SSI. Here you’ll learn how structures respond to seismic forces and how the ground plays a major role in that response.
Response Spectra28:43
The lecture covers a very important ground motion parameter called Response Spectra including Normalised response spectra, Design Spectra and Elastic Design Spectra.
Attenuation relationship12:10
The lecture covers attenuation relationships—the empirical and theoretical models that help us understand how earthquake waves decay with distance. It also covers the attenuation equations.
Seismic Hazard, Seismic Risk and Seismic Loading30:10
In this lecture, we will explore key concepts in earthquake engineering: Seismic Hazard, its assessement, the associated Risk, and Seismic Loading
Earthquake Design Methods40:33
This lecture covers the history of seismic design, the evolution of seismic design codes and standards, and various seismic analysis and design methods used for building structures.
Practice Test 2
Quiz 2
Assignment 3

Requirements

No special knowledge needed. No programming/coding required.

Description

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of seismology and earthquake engineering by delving into both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Learners will begin by examining the Earth's internal structure and the elastic rebound theory, gaining an understanding of seismic waves, their propagation, and velocity. The curriculum then expands into the dynamics of plate tectonics and active faults, detailing the processes that trigger earthquakes and their profound impacts on the built environment.

A key component of the course is the analysis of strong-ground-motion measurement techniques using seismographs and accelerographs. Learners will learn to estimate essential ground motion parameters such as magnitude, frequency, duration, peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and peak ground displacement. In addition, the course covers the computation of seismic moment, various magnitude scales, and the significance of epicentral distance.

Advanced topics include the evaluation and application of attenuation equations to determine site-specific ground motion, as well as an in-depth study of soil–structure interaction—addressing issues like soil liquefaction and soil amplification during seismic events. Finally, the course focuses on assessing seismic hazards, risks, and loading on structures, offering strategies to mitigate seismic risk while reflecting on lessons learned from past earthquakes.

This interdisciplinary program bridges geophysical principles and engineering practices, preparing learners for careers in seismic hazard assessment, risk reduction, and resilient structural design.

Who this course is for:

Civil and geotechnical engineering students
Structural and earthquake engineering students
Graduate engineers who are interested in Earthquake, Seismology and Geothchnical Engineering

Seismology and Earthquake Engineering for Beginners

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Course content

Fundamentals of Earthquake Engineering5 lectures • 1hr 17min

Seismology and Earthquakes7 lectures • 1hr 47min

Ground Motion Parameters and Seismic Design6 lectures • 2hr 32min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: