International Lectures of Visiting Scholars Orsolya Kegyes-Brassai & Nurullah Bektaş

16 May 2023, 15:00-17:30

Doctoral Schools of Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, str. Mihail Moxa nr. 3-5, Bucharest, Romania

May 15, 2023

Local Hazard and Building Vulnerability Assessment for Risk Determination in an Urban Area Győr, Hungary

Orsolya Kegyes-Brassai
Széchenyi István University, Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, 9026, Győr, Hungary

About the presentation

The presentation focuses on the local hazard and building vulnerability assessment for risk determination in the urban area of Győr, Hungary. It begins by discussing the historical seismicity of the Pannonian Region, spanning from 456 AD to 2015, and highlighting recent earthquakes that reached magnitudes of 4.9 to 6.3. The presentation explores the seismic hazard maps of Hungary and Europe, providing an understanding of the region's vulnerability.

The importance of considering site effects and building types in assessing seismic risk in different districts of Győr is highlighted. While the European Code EC8 classifies the city area as soil type C, indicating a uniform hazard, it is noted that the hazard distribution is not uniform in reality. Peak Ground Acceleration Profiles and Acceleration Response Spectrums at the ground surface are discussed as additional tools for understanding the potential impact of earthquakes on buildings.

To determine risk, the presentation outlines the process involved, including the assessment of seismic hazard and the evaluation of building vulnerability. Various methods are presented, such as rapid visual screening, preliminary vulnerability assessment, and detailed vulnerability assessment, which collectively aid in assessing the risk. The presentation also explores the conventional and soft rapid visual screening (RVS) methods used for vulnerability assessment, highlighting their development timeline, parameters considered, implementation, and effectiveness. It further introduces soft RVS methods based on fuzzy logic (FL), machine learning (ML), and neural networks (NNs).

In summary, the presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the local hazard and building vulnerability assessment in Győr, Hungary. It addresses seismic design codes, historical seismicity, risk determination processes, site effects, and the development of conventional and soft RVS methods. This information is crucial for assessing and mitigating the seismic risk faced by the city and its buildings.

About the speaker

Orsolya Kegyes-Brassai is an associate professor at the Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering at SzechenyiIstvan University (SZE), started as an assistant lecturer in 2006. Orsolya graduated obtaining degree in two specializations in 2001: architectural design and structural design from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BUTE) Faculty of Architecture. During graduate years, she received the Federal Scholarship of Hungary and continued her studies in Sweden for a year with the support of ERASMUS scholarship. Right after graduation, she was admitted to the CsonkaPál Doctoral School at BUTE. After maternal leave (in 2004 and 2008) she was admitted as a doctoral candidate to the Interdisciplinary Doctoral School of Engineering at SZE, with supervision of Dr. Richard P. Ray in 2012.

She obtained a PhD in earthquake risk analysis in 2015. Supporting her research, she was awarded the AnyosJedlik PhD Candidate Scholarship in the National Excellence Program of the European Union and the State of Hungary. She was a Fulbright scholar in 2017 as a researcher at the University of Memphis and CERI. Currently she is supervisor of three PhD students in seismic risk and resilience. She has been part of the expert team working in Tirana after the earthquake in 2019, so she has not only a PhD in the area of seismic risk and vulnerability assessment but also field experience in building assessment, following the European post-earthquake assessment procedures.

She is a registered structural designer and architect since 2003 with the Hungarian Chamber of Engineers and Hungarian Chamber of Architects, having 20 years of experience in design and construction supervision, being the CEO of PIUS Ltd.

Observations from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence

Nurullah Bektaş
Széchenyi István University, Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, 9026, Győr, Hungary

About the presentation

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence in Turkey. The 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence in Turkey has provided valuable insights into various aspects of seismic activity and its impact on the region. This presentation aims to summarize the key observations and findings from this earthquake sequence, covering topics such as tectonic plates, fault lines, risk mapping, affected cities, design regulations, historical earthquakes, building classifications, rebar and concrete details, soil liquefaction, damage assessment, damage proxy maps, design response spectrums, site-specific response spectrums, and retrofitting efforts. The aim is to analyze seismic activity, understand its impact, and highlight measures for improving structural resilience in earthquake-prone regions.

The observations and lessons learned from the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Sequence in Turkey provide valuable insights into earthquake preparedness, infrastructure resilience, and effective response and recovery strategies. By understanding the factors contributing to damage and failure, we can enhance our ability to mitigate the impact of future seismic events and build safer communities.

About the speaker

Nurullah BEKTAŞ is a highly accomplished Civil Engineer specializing in seismic risk reduction and rapid visual screening of existing buildings. With a strong background in earthquake engineering and seismology, Nurullah has amassed extensive experience working with companies in Turkey. Nurullah's dedication to professional growth is evident through his active involvement in various esteemed organizations such as the Structural Extreme Events Reconnaissance, where he has contributed to earthquake reconnaissance reports, and the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team, where he has participated in the postearthquake site investigation following the 2023 Turkey earthquake. He has also held the position of Vice-Treasurer in the NHERI Graduate Student Council and has been a part of The Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team and The Earthquake Country Alliance.

In addition to his professional engagements, Nurullah has excelled in academia, teaching courses at Széchenyi István University. His commitment to research is evident through his publication of multiple journal papers on seismic vulnerability assessment and rapid visual screening methods. He has also presented his research findings at various international conferences. Furthermore, Nurullah has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field, receiving prestigious awards and scholarships.

Actively participating in international scientific and professional endeavors, Nurullah has collaborated with experts in the field, shared his research insights, and contributed to scientific reports and publications. Nurullah's research focuses on the development and comparison of rapid visual screening methods and detailed vulnerability assessment methods for assessing the vulnerability of existing buildings to earthquakes. He has explored the use of fuzzy logic, machine learning, and neural networks to enhance the efficiency and reliability of these methods.