University at Buffalo EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

RESEARCH INSTITUTE2002-2003 Student Chapter

CHAPTER INTRODUCTIONThe UB-EERI is an active student chapter with 15 members. UB-EERI members are

graduate students researching topics such as: Seismology, Soil Liquefaction, Structural Dynamics, Seismic Retrofit of Existing Structures, Protective System Design, Passive and Active Structural Control. Despite busy schedules, UB-EERI co-sponsors a seminar series, host video and informal student presentations. Chapter members also take time for social activities which include: picnics, BBQ’s, and the occasional happy hour at a local pub.

UB-EERI has worked hard in conjunction with the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research Networking and Education Programs (MCEER), MCEER Student Leadership Council (MCEER-SLC) and the University at Buffalo Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental (UB-CSEE) to co-sponsor a seminar series since early spring 2001. Unfortunately, due to the current construction at Ketter Hall, part of UB’s award under the NEES collaboration, our webcasting facilities have been unavailable since summer 2002. However, upon completion of the expansion, seminar webcasting will be resumed.

2003 Faculty Advisor:Dr. Andrei M. Reinhorn, Professor, Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering

2003 UB-EERI Officers:Darren Vian – PresidentRamiro Vargas – Vice-PresidentGordon P. Warn – SecretaryClaudia Marin– Treasurer

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSSpecial thanks to the following sponsors for making our chapter’s activities possible:

Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)

Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering (MCEER)

MCEER Networking Program for webcasting facilities

Student Leadership Council

University at Buffalo, Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering

Dr. Andrei M. Reinhorn (faculty advisor), Dr. Michael C. Constantinou (chairman)

2003 UB-EERI Members:Jeff Berman, Diego Lopez Garcia, Yasuo Kitane, Dyah Kusumastuti, George Mavroeidis, Ani Natali Sigaher, Benedikt Halldorsson, Fangyin Zhang, Michael Pollino, Hiram Badillo, Wei Liu

July 31, 2002: UB-EERI Student Chapter Dinner

The UB-EERI student chapter invited it's members to a summer dinner at Cozumel Restaurant on Elmwood Avenue, near downtown Buffalo. More than a dozen members attended the dinner and enjoyed a nice evening out .

RECENT ACTIVITIESOctober 28, 2002: A seminar co-sponsored by, MCEER,MCEER-SLC, UB-EERI, and UB-CSEEProfessor Reginald DesRoches of Georgia Institute of Technology

Professor DesRoches gave a lecture on “Seismic Retrofit Using Shape Memory Alloys”.

September 20, 2002: A seminar co-sponsored by, MCEER, MCEER-SLC, UB-EERI, and UB-CSEEProfessor Andre Filiatrault of University of California-San Diego

Professor Filiatrault lectured on “Development of Post-Tensioned Energy Dissipating Connections For Steel Moment Resisting Frames”.

RECENT ACTIVITIES-CONTINUED

FUTURE ACTIVITIESSpring, 2003: A seminar sponsored by EERI’s Friedman Family Visiting Professionals Program

Fall, 2003: A seminar sponsored by EERI’s Distinguished Lecture Series for 2003, Professor William Petak of USC

2003 Local Contact:Serafim Arzoumanidis, Steinman, Boynton, Gronquist & Birdsall, NY, NY

March 15, 2002: A seminar co-sponsored by, MCEER, MCEER-SLC, UB-EERI, and UB-CSEEMr. Emmanuel Velivasakis, Managing Principal, LZA TechnologyMr. Emmanuel Velivasakis presented a lecture on “World Trade Center Disaster” http://civil.eng.buffalo.edu/webcast/velivasakis/

March 6, 2002: A seminar co-sponsored by, MCEER, MCEER-SLC, UB-EERI, and UB-CSEEMr. Ronald T. Eguchi, President and CEO of ImageCat, Inc.Mr. Ronald T. Eguchi presented a lecture on “Using Synthetic Aperture Radar and other Remote Sensing Technologies to Detect Earthquake Damage in the 1999 Marmara, Turkey, Earthquake” http://civil.eng.buffalo.edu/webcast/eguchi/

February 6-9, 2002: EERI Annual Meeting in Long Beach, CA

Jeffrey Berman, Gordon Warn, and Ani Natali Sigaher represented the UB-EERI chapter at the annual meeting.

April 5, 2002: A seminar sponsored by the EERI Distinguished Lecture Series

Professor Mete A. Sözen of Purdue UniversityKettelhut Distinguished Professor of Structural Engineering

Professor Sözen presented a talk entitled “A Way of Thinking”.

From Left to Right: Darren, Professor Sözen, Gordon, and Benedikt Mr. Velivasakis presenting his talk

The 2002-2003 UB-EERI Officers in front of the Ketter Hall ConstructionFrom Left to Right: Darren, Claudia, Gordon, and Ramiro