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M. Johannik:
"Erdbebensicherung von Geschoßwohnbauten aus Betonfertigteilen";
Supervisor: A. Kolbitsch, M. Höflinger; Institut für Hochbau und Technologie, 2011; final examination: 2011.

This work is a composition of three topics: construction of dwelling houses, precast
concrete technology and earthquake engineering.
The explanations are re fe ring to dwelling houses exposed to low and medium seismic
regions in Austria and on the application of the Eurocodes, which were introduced in
spring 2009.
Motivation for seismic design of precast condrete buidings
Earthquakes in Austria are rarely noticed by population. Nevertheless hundrets of earthquakes
occur and even large seismic hazards cannot be excluded.
Earthquakes cause dynamic forces that activate complex mechanisms inside the bearing
structures of houses. In case of precast concrete elements, horizontal bearing structures
are built with linked wallsystems. For such systems it is difficult to determine the seismic
behavior because of the lack of continuity due to the connections between the walls.
The purpose of earthquake engineering is to
. safe life,
. prevent collapse,
. reduce hazards,
. enable assurability of buildings.
Recent earthquakes in Japan, Haiti, New Zealand and lately in Turkey this year (2011)
showed the damage caused from seismic hazard.
Problem Statement
Modern buildings are designed to offer flexible living standard. Thatfore structures
become increasingly complex and this way conflict with the demands of precast concrete
constructions and seismic design is complicated.
The bearing structures of multi-story houses with precast concrete elements manly con~
sist of shear walls which are linked through stiff slabs. A major task is to design these
wallstructures and earthquake resistant joint-systems.
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