Based on the site's objectives, the information provided, in this first phase, is intended to emphasize the need first, to stop and redirect the process followed until this day in the implementation of seismic resistant designs in Lebanon, and second, to impose more stringent requirements in the design of upcoming constructions since Lebanon should be considered a high seismic risk region. It consists in bringing out the following:
  1. The main issues in seismic designs and the main factors that have contributed to the deficiencies observed in these designs since the early 1990's. (Read more)

  2. The summary notes on seismic design of buildings in Lebanon, submitted to the OEA, where these deficiencies and the remedial measures that should be undertaken to improve the adequacy and efficiency of seismic resistant design of the upcoming constructions are briefly explained.(Read more)

  3. Several examples of typical failures observed following recent earthquakes around the world, to help the understanding of how structures behave during these events, particularly stressing that the static approach cannot be considered an accurate straightforward method in seismic resistant designs if not accompanied by the required experience and an understanding of earthquake effects. (Read more)

  4. The two basic sources of models used in Earthquake Engineering to quantify a site or region specific seismic risk (generally expressed in terms of annual probability of a given level of PGA) are historical seismic data and geological data. In Lebanon, both of these sources should be considered to quantify the seismic risk and it is recommended, at the same time, to be rather conservative on the adequate level of earthquake design that cannot be accurately determined in the absence of a global seismic hazard assessment.
In a further phase, more in depth information will be provided regarding mainly the control damage issue to prevent the entire loss of the building and its contents following an earthquake (the design-level earthquake), the problems with force-based approach in view of the recent advances in Earthquake Engineering, and the trend in recent Code provisions to rely more on performance-based rather than force-based earthquake design.