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Panel on Wind and Seismic Effects

Responding to the need for improving engineering and scientific practices through the exchange of technical data and information, research personnel, and research equipment, the United States and Japan in 1961 created the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Science Program. Three collateral programs comprise the Cooperative Science Program. The US.-Japan Natural Resources Development Program (UJNR), one of the three, was created in January 1964. The objective of UJNR is to exchange information on research results and exchange scientists and engineers in natural resources for the benefit of both countries. UJNR is composed of 16 Panels, each responsible for specific technical subjects.

The Panel on Wind and Seismic Effects was established in 1969. Twenty U.S. and seven Japanese organizations participate ( Tables 1 and 2) to develop and exchange technologies aimed at reducing damage from high winds, earthquakes, storm surges, and tsunamis. This work is carried out through collaboration between U.S. and Japanese member researchers participating in ten task committees. Each committee focuses on specific technical issues. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides the U.S.-side chair and secretariat. The Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) provides the Japan-side chair and secretariat.

Annual meetings of the Panel alternate between the U.S. and Japan. Through the interactions the Panel member organizations have realized important advances in building and structures technology. The Panel's activities have resulted in improved building and structure codes and standards in both countries. For example:

The Panel's efforts exemplifies effective joint research and technology exchange between researchers In the U.S. and Japan. Since its creation more than 25 years ago, over 1300 papers have been presented in 25 Joint Meetings and 40 Task Committee Workshops, and over 100 guest researchers have been exchanged between the two countries. Published proceedings document the Panel's work. The Panel disseminates important information about the major concerns of U.S. and Japanese researchers and practitioners in civil engineering. This information influences both countries' research agendas, and provides the basis for improvements in building and structures codes and standards.

The Panel provides the vehicle to exchange technical data and information on design and construction of civil engineering lifelines, buildings, and water front structures, and to exchange high wind and seismic measurement records.

Table 1 - Member Organizations, U.S. Side

Department Member Organization
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Products Laboratory
U.S. Department of the Air Force Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency
U.S. Department of the Army U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
California Department of Transportation Structures Division
U.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Safety Health and Quality Assurance
Federal Emergency Management Agency Mitigation Directorate
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Housing
U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation
Geological Survey
Minerals Management Service
National Science Foundation Directorate of Engineering
U.S. Department of the Navy Naval Facilies Engineering Command
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Branch
U.S. Department of State Agency for International Development
Office of Foreign Buildings
State University of New York at Buffalo National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research
U.S. Department of Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Facilities

Table 2 - Member Organizations, Japan Side

Ministry Member Organization
Ministry of Construction Public Works Research Institute
Building Reserch Institute
Geographical Survey Institute
Japan Meteorological Agency Meteorological Research Institute
Ministry of Transport Port and Harbour Research Institute
Hokkaido Development Agency Civil Engineering Research Institute Hokkaido Development Bureau
Science and Technollogy Agency National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention

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25th Joint Meeting

The 25th Joint Meeting was held on May 17-20, 1993 at the Public Works Research Institute, Tsukuba Science City Japan. Sixteen U.S. side participants headed by Dr. Richard N. Wright, U.S. Chairman and Director of the Building and Fire Research 'Laboratory at NIST and 33 Japan side participants headed by Mr. Yukihiko Sumiyoshi, Japan Chairman and Director- General of PWRI attended the Joint Meeting.

The joint Meeting began with the Opening Ceremony, May 17. Addresses were given by Mr. Toru Kondo, Vice Minister of Construction for Engineering Affairs, Dr. Edward M. Malloy, Minister Counselor of the US. Embassy and Mr. Shinichiro Ogawa, Director of the International Affairs Division of the Science and Technology Agency. Then Mr. Yukihiko Sumiyoshi, and Dr. Richard N. Wright, gave addresses on behalf of the Japan side and US. side Panels.

The technical presentations began the afternoon of May 17. Presentations and discussions were made in four technical sessions consisting of 1) wind effects, 2) earthquake engineering, 3) storm surge and tsunami and 4) U.5.-Japan cooperative research programs. Fifteen papers from the U.S. side and twenty three papers from the Japan side were presented. These covered a wide range of technical fields including the damage caused by recent earthquakes, typhoons and hurricanes, structural response and seismic design of buildings, bridges and dams, soil liquefaction and wind effects.

During the next week, the delegation visited 14 technical sites to discuss research and advancement in practice.

The Meeting highlighted important work by the US. and Japan Panel, e.g., wind hazard mitigation efforts lag seismic in both Japan and the U.S.; important knowledge was exchanged for research and practice such as information was gained about extensive Japanese public works projects and civil engineering research and their applications into practice, excellent work is being performed by both sides in intelligent and active materials and systems technologies, reports on reconnaissance of recent earthquakes shows again the need to address the vulnerability of non-ductile concrete and masonry buildings, during the recent past cooperative research programs has led to Japan-side publications of Precast Connection Design, Manual and Design Guidelines for New Precast Concrete Systems and the Panel approved a new cooperative Research Program on Seismic Performance of Composite and Hybrid Structures.

Participants in the 25th Joint Meeting
Yukihiko Sumiyoshi,
Japan side Chairman		 Richard N. Wright,
U.S. side Chairman

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Task Committees

Under the Panel, 10 Task Committees (Table 3) promote the Panel's program by exchanging technical information and organizing workshops on relevant topics. More than 40 Workshops and Meetings have been held by Task Committee Table 4 shows the Workshops and Meetings held since the 24th Joint Meeting, May 1992.

Task Committee activities grow in strength. The structure is an effective vehicle to explore in depth these technologies and design and construction methods being used by both countries.

Table 3 - Task Committees of the Panel

Task Committee
A Strong Motion Data and Applications
B Testing and Evaluation Procedures for Building Systems
C Design, Evaulation and Improvement of Structures
D Dam Earthquake Engineering
F Disaster Prevention Methods for Lifeline Systems
G Structural Control and Intelligent Material Systems
H Soil Behavior and Stability during Earthquakes
I Storm Surges and Tsunamis
J Wind and Earthquake Engineering for Transportation Systems
K Wind and Earthquake Engineering for Offshore and Coastal Facilities

Table 4 - WOrkshops and Meetings held since the 24th Joint Meeting, May 1992

T/C Workshops and Meeting Date Place
F 5th Workshop on Earthquake Disaster Prevention for Lifeline Systems October 26,27 1992 Tsukuba, Japan
B 3rd Technical Coordinating Committee on Precast Seismic Structural Systems Program November 18-20, 1992 San Diego, U.S.A.
G 2nd Workshop on Earthquake Protective Systems of Bridges December 7,8 1992 Tsukuba, Japan
J 9th Bridge Workshop May 10, 11, 1993 Tsukuba, Japan
K 1st Workshop on Wind and Seismic Engineering for Offshore and Coastal Facilities May 12, 13, 1993 Yokosuka, Japan
G+C,D Workshop on Smart and High Performance Material and Structures May 14, 15 1993 Tsukuba, Japan
I 3rd Tsunami Workshop August 28, 1993 Tsukuba, Japan
B 1st Joint Technical Coordinating Committee Meeting - U.S.-Japan Cooperative Seismic Research Program on Composite and Hybrid Structures - November 8,9, 1993 Tsukuba, Japan
A International Workshop on Strong Motion Earthquake Data December 10-17, 1993 Menlo Park, U.S.A

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Special Symposium for 25th Anniversary of the Panel

1993 was the 70th anniversary of the 1923 Kanto Earthquake, in which over 142,000 residents in Tokyo were killed. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Panel, to commemorate the great Kanto Earthquake, and to dedicate the Panel's efforts to the activities of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR), a one day Special Seminar was held jointly with the IDNDR Promotion Section of the Ministry of Construction, in Tokyo on May 21, 1993. The purpose of the Symposium was to increase the awareness of disastrous effects resulting from strong winds and earthquakes. Among the Panel members, Mr. G. R. Fuller (HUD), Mr. Y. Sumiyoshi (PWRI) and Dr. R. N. Wright (NIST) gave presentations in the Symposium. Dr. E. 0. Pfrang, Executive Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers, who was the 1st U.S. side chairman of the Panel ~969-1983) also made a presentation.

These invited papers dealt with accomplishments of the Panel and the state of research and practice in wind and seismic effects. The Poster Session highlighted the work of the Joint Panel's activities, featured its member agencies, and chronicled the history of Japan's severe earthquakes.

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Joint Damage Investigation to Hokkaido-Nansei-Oki Earthquake, July 1993

Several joint damage surveys have been coordinated under the Panel. The Panel's post-earthquake fact finding teams visited the sites of damaged structures following the Izu-Peninsula Earthquake of February 1978, the Miyagi-ken-oki Earthquake of June 1978, the Nihon-kai-chubu Earthquake of May 1983, and the Loma Prieta Earthquake of October 1989. A damage survey by the Japan side members following the Hurricane Andrew of 1992 was supported by U.S. members of the Panel.

Under the auspices of the Panel, a joint damage investigation was made from July 19 - 23, 1993 following the Hokkaido-nansei-oki Earthquake of July 12, 1993. The earthquake had Richter magnitude 7.8 and caused extensive damage at Okushiri Island and on the southwest side of the island of Hokkaido. This damage was mainly the result of tsunami, soil liquefaction, and land slides. Tsunami damage was substantial. Nine Japan side members, headed by Mr. Yutaka Iida, Director of Earthquake Disaster Prevention Department, PWRI and thirteen U.S. members, headed by Dr. Riley M. Chung, Group Leader, Earthquake Engineering, Structures Division NIST, surveyed the damage together.

This earthquake provided U.S. and Japanese researchers and practitioners an opportunity to study the performance of wood-framed buildings, the causes of and response to fires, the effect of tsunami, and the performance of lifelines and other infrastructure systems.

From the Editor

It is our great pleasure to produce this first issue of the Wind and Seismic Effects Newsletter. The Wind and Seismic Effects Panel was created over 25 years ago to promote technical cooperation between the U.S. and Japan. The purpose of this newsletter is to periodically provide an overview of the on-going activities of the Panel.

 

Takashi Iijima
Secretary General, Japan-side,
Assistant Director-General, Public Works Research Institute
Ministry of Construction, Tsukuba Science City,
Japan 305,
phone: 0298-64-2211; fax: 0298-64-2840

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