Seismic Engineering in Infrastructures: Challenges and Prospects

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811). This special issue belongs to the section "Infrastructures and Structural Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 November 2025 | Viewed by 2628

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Dipartimento Economia e Tecnologia, Università di San Marino, Via Consiglio dei 60, n.99, 47899 Dogana, San Marino
Interests: earthquake engineering; resilience; numerical simulations; soil structure interaction; infrastructures
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Civil communities are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes; thus, the assessment of their resilience is extremely important for decision-making sciences. Seismic resilience may be described as the ability to maintain the functionality of infrastructures to deliver services during and after seismic events. In this regard, many stakeholders may take advantages of such concept to consider the investments on infrastructures on their components, and subcomponents subjected to earthquakes. Resilience may be described two base principles: 1. prevention, and 2. learning from the present for future events. In this regard, it may be considered as the adaptability of a system or a community to external events, and many contributions must be considered together: social dimension of resilience, the importance of learning from the past, the community exposure, the possibility of change, the need to define some levels of performance and the importance of future protection actions. Moving from this background, this Special Issue aims to make a state-of-the-art update on the most credited approaches with a specific focus on seismic resilience. The studies related to seismic resilience analyses will be considered to expand the field on novel and developed case studies. Although few studies have been conducted on the seismic resilience of infrastructures, the recent destructions caused by the earthquake imply that distinct resilience analyses are needed in different regions and infrastructure systems. Thus, this Special Issue aims to bring together diverse stakeholders such as researchers, designers, infrastructure owners and planners to a common platform and create a fruitful forum to exchange state-of-the art updates around the knowledge of the seismic resilience of infrastructure systems.

Prof. Dr. Davide Forcellini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • resilience
  • infrastructures
  • bridges
  • earthquakes
  • loss
  • recovery

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 10538 KiB  
Article
Physical Slope Stability: Factors of Safety Under Static and Pseudo-Static Conditions
by Cecilia Arriola, Eddie Aronés, Violeta Vega, Doris Esenarro, Geofrey Salas, Anjhinson Romero and Vanessa Raymundo
Infrastructures 2025, 10(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10030053 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 199
Abstract
Evaluating physical slope stability is essential to prevent landslides and damage to infrastructure located on sloping terrains. This study analyzes how static and pseudo-static conditions affect slope safety, considering the magnitude and location of the loads exerted. A total of 2394 simulations were [...] Read more.
Evaluating physical slope stability is essential to prevent landslides and damage to infrastructure located on sloping terrains. This study analyzes how static and pseudo-static conditions affect slope safety, considering the magnitude and location of the loads exerted. A total of 2394 simulations were carried out on 399 terrain profiles, using the Spencer method to calculate factors of safety (FSs). The results reveal that uniformly distributed loads placed at the center of the slope increase stability under static conditions. However, in pseudo-static scenarios, the action of dynamic forces, such as seismicity, drastically reduces the FS, especially on slopes greater than 15%. This analysis allowed the identification of critical zones of high susceptibility, promoting the implementation of reinforcement techniques, such as retaining walls and drainage systems. In addition, zoning maps were developed that prioritize safe areas for urban development, aligned with the international standards. The findings underscore the importance of integrating predictive models into design and planning processes, considering both static and dynamic factors. In conclusion, this study provides practical tools for risk mitigation and resilient infrastructure design in sloping terrains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Engineering in Infrastructures: Challenges and Prospects)
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25 pages, 6967 KiB  
Article
Digital Mapping and Resilience Indicators, as Pillars of Bucharest’s Seismic Resilience Strategy
by Mihnea Paunescu, Oana Luca, Adrian Andrei Stanescu and Florian Gaman
Infrastructures 2025, 10(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10020039 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 850
Abstract
This study presents relevant elements of seismic resilience strategy containing an innovative digital mapping tool tailored for Bucharest, one of Europe’s most seismically vulnerable areas. The framework integrates seismic resilience indicators and expert input with Bucharest’s seismic micro-zonation map to systematically identify critical [...] Read more.
This study presents relevant elements of seismic resilience strategy containing an innovative digital mapping tool tailored for Bucharest, one of Europe’s most seismically vulnerable areas. The framework integrates seismic resilience indicators and expert input with Bucharest’s seismic micro-zonation map to systematically identify critical relocation areas, including educational institutions, medical facilities, and open spaces for emergency use. A seven-step methodology underpins the strategy: identifying resilience indicators, gathering local data, conducting expert workshops, mapping vulnerable areas, designating emergency open spaces, incorporating educational institutions as shelters, and evaluating the framework through a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. The digital mapping tool developed using Google My Maps provides a practical and accessible platform for emergency management professionals and the public, enabling real-time response coordination and informed long-term planning. District 2 is identified as the most vulnerable area due to high population density and peak ground acceleration (PGA), while District 4 faces challenges stemming from limited medical and relocation resources, despite experiencing lower seismic activity. The SWOT analysis demonstrates the tool’s potential as a robust disaster management framework, while highlighting the need for continuous updates, enhanced collaboration, and integration of additional data. This study offers a scalable model for other urban contexts, bridging the gap between strategic planning and operational readiness for seismic risk reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Engineering in Infrastructures: Challenges and Prospects)
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12 pages, 1428 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Assessments of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation Design Properties
by Davide Forcellini
Infrastructures 2024, 9(11), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures9110202 - 11 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 969
Abstract
This paper proposes a method to investigate the design properties of geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI). This technique has been the object of many research contributions, both experimental and numerical. However, methods that may be used by practitioners for design procedures are still unavailable. [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a method to investigate the design properties of geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI). This technique has been the object of many research contributions, both experimental and numerical. However, methods that may be used by practitioners for design procedures are still unavailable. The formulation presented herein may be used for preliminary assessments of two important properties: the thickness and the shear wave velocity. Three-dimensional advanced numerical simulations were performed with the state-of-the-art platform OpenSees in order to verify the analytical formulation on a benchmark case study. The elongation ratio has been taken as the relevant parameter to discuss the efficiency of GSI in decoupling the soil from the structure. The main findings consist of assessing the dependency of the elongation ratio on two parameters: the thickness and the shear velocity of the GSI layer. In this regard, a novel formulation was proposed in order to make preliminary design assessments that can be used by practitioners for practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seismic Engineering in Infrastructures: Challenges and Prospects)
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