EXCHANGE-SSI · Experimental & Computational Hybrid Assessment Network for Ground-Motion Excited Soil-Structure Interaction Systems

The main objective of the project proposed is to establish the framework of an extended and continuous research staff exchange between E.U. institutions and the Mid-America Earthquake Centre and other advanced US centres, in order to promote the transfer of knowhow with respect to the application of the most advanced experimental and numerical analysis approaches (i.e. geographically distributed hybrid multi-platform experimentation) currently available in the U.S. for the study of complex soil-structure interaction effects in seismic design and assessment of bridges. This is made feasible by a sequel of well-planned research staff visits, the organization of focused research workshops, as well as by the preparation and performance of two geographically distributed (in the US and EU) joint hybrid experiments as a means to ensure knowledge transfer and maximize the impact of human mobility. It is believed that the partnership of EXCHANGE-SSI can bridge the existing technological gap between US and the EU, permit the effective networking of existing infrastructure and as such, it can create the momentum required (and currently missing) for long-lasting integrated high level joint EU-US research on common problems related to the use of hybrid experimentation for soil-bridge interaction studies.