Earthquake Risk Reduction in Buildings and Infrastructure Program

The goal of this program is to develop performance-based tools, guidelines, and standards for the design of new buildings and the retrofit of existing buildings to resist earthquake effects, improve building safety, and enhance the resilience of communities to disasters.The program fulfills the NIST research role within the four agency partnership of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP).The research program involves both in-house and extramural research.Research is concentrated in these major areas: technical support for building code development, performance-based seismic engineering, national design guidelines, evaluated technology dissemination, and improved evaluation and strengthening for existing buildings. NISTis also designated by Congress as the Lead Agency for NEHRP^[1], and the program supports the NEHRP Secretariat Office, which coordinates the NEHRP research and implementation activities for the four NEHRP agencies – the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NIST, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Objective:To develop and deploy advances in measurement science to resist earthquake effects, improve safety, and enhance resilience of buildings, infrastructure, and communities by 2016.

What is the problem?   Damaging earthquakes occur infrequently, but they strike with little or no warning, with potentially catastrophic consequences.In 2010 and 2011, major earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, New Zealand, and Japan have re-emphasized the potential impacts of such events in the U.S. During the recorded history of the U.S., earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 (M6.5) or greater have occurred in Alaska, California, South Carolina, the Intermountain West, the Central U.S., and New England. Earthquakes as large as M9 have occurred in the Pacific Northwest.A 2008 US Geological Survey (USGS) report^[2] stated that there is a 46% probability of the occurrence of an earthquake with M7.5 or greater in the next 30 years somewhere in California.

A 2003 Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) report^[3] stated that a single large earthquake in a major U.S. urban area could easily result in direct and indirect economic losses between $100B and $200B.The EERI report noted that economic and population growth, and increased societal interconnectedness that is largely due to increased urbanization, has led to greatly increased lives and infrastructure at risk, over even larger areas.The report also explained that U.S. model building codes largely emphasize occupants’ life safety, with little consideration given to limiting economic losses. This was early recognition that the nation’s earthquake preparedness should extend beyond immediate life safety, to providing local, state, and national resilience^[4]to earthquakes.

The NEHRP agencies set a vision of future U.S. national earthquake resilience in the NEHRP Strategic Plan^[5]. More recently, the present Administration has recognized that national resilience in the face of earthquakes and other hazards is a vital challenge for the nation’s future^[6].

While seismic design provisions for new buildings in U.S. model building codes have gradually been improved, their continued focus on occupants’ life safety has led to costly, inflexible prescriptive design procedures.The typical building that is built to code-minimum life safety standards will almost certainly be severely damaged when subjected to the “design level earthquake ground motion.” Such damage will lead to costly repair work or, in many cases, demolition and replacement. Required repair or replacement will impede community resilience.

The nation’s existing building stock is more vulnerable to earthquake damage than newly designed buildings. Since existing buildings are likely to be in use for many decades, they pose even higher societal risk, both in terms of life safety and resilience, than newly constructed buildings do. Cost-effective seismic evaluation and rehabilitation methodologies for them are not widely available or applied.

There is minimal linkage between the robust basic engineering research program that is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) umbrella and activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist in developing the earthquake provisions of the national model building codes.A 2003 report from the Applied Technology Council (ATC) identified this technology transfer “gap” as a serious national deficiency^[7].This gap hampers the transfer of new technologies into the design and construction communities.

Considering the numerous above-mentioned shortcomings, measurement science is lacking in a number of key areas: accurate prediction of structural performance to failure; prediction of the ability of existing structures to withstand earthquake-induced motions and provide cost-effective earthquake performance improvement; performance-based engineering methodologies  that aremore cost-effective than current prescriptive procedures; and facilitation of lessons learned from actual earthquakes.

Why is it hard to solve?The nature of the earthquake hazard and its associated risks is very broad, requiring the diverse capabilities of at least the four NEHRP agencies for solution.The capabilities and associated activities include seismic monitoring, mapping, and notification (USGS); education and basic research in earth sciences, social sciences, and earthquake engineering (NSF); applied earthquake engineering research (NIST); and knowledge transfer into national model building codes and to practitioners (FEMA).The four NEHRP agencies are separate and distinct, with separate appropriations, Congressional oversight, leadership, and management.

Avenues for transferring knowledge resulting from basic research into practice are limited.Experimental data on the performance of structures and their component assemblies to failure are limited. Dynamic responses of buildings and other structures to earthquake-induced ground motions, as well as localized geotechnical conditions (e.g., soil liquefaction) are not well understood by many design professionals, standards developers, urban planners, and emergency planners.

Due to the current shortcomings in nonlinear analysis capabilities, earthquake engineering professionals lack standard, accurate, and efficient methods of predicting, evaluating, and assessing the disaster resilience of structures as they respond to design-level earthquake-induced ground motions.Mitigation strategies to improve earthquake performance of structural systems cost-effectively are often much more complex than the prescriptive procedures that dominate building codes, standards, and practices.Communities lack standard methods of assessing community or regional disaster resilience for use in making disaster preparedness and mitigation decisions.

How is it solved today, and by whom?Since becoming the NEHRP Lead Agency in 2006, NIST has been actively engaged with the NEHRP partner agencies in coordinating and managing NEHRP activities.FEMA, NSF, and USGS have been very cooperative partners, and a positive relationship exists. The most recent authorizing legislation (PL 108-360, see footnote 1) expired at the end of FY 2009.Reauthorization hearings were conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009 and again in April 2011. Reauthorization bills have been introduced (HR 1379^[8] and SB 646^[9]) but have not yet been passed.

The problem of providing effective knowledge transfer that supports a resilient society is not solved today.Within NEHRP, the primary statutory EL role beyond that of providing overall NEHRP leadership is to link the basic research products from NSF-supported research with the model building code development work that is largely supported by FEMA (filling the “gap” that has been cited by ATC and others). Prior to FY 2007, NIST STRS appropriations did not address fulfilling this applied research need for more than a decade.No other agency stepped in to satisfy this need, though FEMA and NSF fulfilled the role on an ad hoc basis as effectively as they could without NIST support.The 2008 NEHRP assessment by the NEHRP Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction^[10] noted that “a number of (NIST) statutory responsibilities have not been met because of a lack of funding.”This description referred specifically to the EL applied research role.

Why NIST? Under NEHRP, NIST has a specific statutory role to fulfill. NEHRP has been authorized by Congress since 1977.As discussed above, the most recent NEHRP reauthorization directed that NIST be established as the NEHRP Lead Agency, with responsibility for program coordination and planning for the four NEHRP partner agencies.The same authorizing legislation makes NIST responsible for performing applied earthquake engineering research under the auspices of NEHRP.

This program supports the NIST EL mission of promoting U.S. innovation and competitiveness by anticipating and meeting the measurement science, standards, and technology needs of the U.S. building and fire safety industries in ways that enhance economic security and improve the quality of life.It further supports the EL core competency in resilience and reliabilityof structures subjected to multi-hazards, and fulfills a national knowledge transfer role that is not well-supported by a fragmented U.S. construction industry.

What is the new technical idea? To support the statutory NEHRP Lead Agency responsibility, NIST established the NEHRP Secretariat. The Secretariat provides the Lead Agency capability and also manages all NIST NEHRP-related research.Specific activities of the Secretariat include support for the NEHRP Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC), the senior leadership body for NEHRP; drafting and updating the NEHRP strategic and management plans, developing annual coordinated interagency budgets, and submitting annual reports on NEHRP activities (subject to the approval of the ICC); and, subject to the approval of the ICC, administering the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR), which exists to provide expert assessments on earthquake engineering trends and developments, and on NEHRP effectiveness, management, and coordination (also subject to the approval of the ICC).

Acting with the other NEHRP agencies, NIST developed a new NEHRP Strategic Plan^[11]. The plan provides a program-wide approach to research and implementation, with all of the agencies’ activities being coordinated, and it broadens the NEHRP focus with a new national vision: A nation that is earthquake-resilient in public safety, economic strength, and national security. The Strategic Plan also delineates nine strategic priorities for the NEHRP agencies to pursue, depending on the availability of future resources.

 In addition to providing leadership for NEHRP, NIST is performing applied, problem-focused research in support of NEHRP that links developing fundamental knowledge with practice.The fundamental new idea is that earthquake resilience can be enhanced significantly by developing a robust capability to predict the effects of hazards on the performance of complex structural systems and on community-wide response.This will be achieved by developing:(1) validated data to characterize the hazard environment; (2) validated physics-based models to predict performance of structures to failure; (3) metrics for measuring performance; (4) acceptance criteria for differing levels of performance objectives; (5) mitigation strategies based on evaluated performance; and (6) community-scale loss estimation tools.

The research program to support this new idea conforms philosophically with the R&D “roadmap” provided by ATC 57^[12].In keeping with the ATC 57-recommended approach, R&D is being performed through a partnership of in-house and extramural expertise.EL is building up a new earthquake research team of engineers with specialized expertise. EL has recently added five permanent engineers (including the NEHRP Deputy Director), an administrative assistant, and a student researcher. Beyond the in-house staff is a world-class extramural team.In 2007, EL awarded an indefinite delivery – indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to the NEHRP Consultants Joint Venture^[13] (NCJV) that taps practitioner and analytical and experimental research expertise, keying on interaction with the NSF-sponsored George E. Brown, Jr., Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES).In 2012, this IDIQ contract will be re-competed nationally; there is a five-year contract lifespan.

Why can we succeed now?At the broad NEHRP level, the most immediate reason for anticipated success is the significant and increasing, degree of synergy that exists among the four NEHRP agencies. The Strategic Plan was developed as a cooperative effort of the four agencies, considering the needs of the nation and capabilities of the agencies. The NIST Lead Agency role and the program activities are also strongly supported by the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) and the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR).The ICC, which includes the administrator/directors of the four NEHRP agencies, as well as the directors of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), provides senior leadership synergy, while the ACEHR provides valuable insights from leading practitioners and researchers that facilitate improved planning and interaction.

EL is implementing the R&D “roadmap” that was presented in ATC 57.The roadmap laid out a clear research philosophy for EL research participation in NEHRP that was provided by leading national earthquake engineering practitioners and researchers. Supporting the roadmap philosophy, recent advances in earthquake-related technical disciplines and computational capabilities make possible significant advances in the component research topics. The partnership with NCJV provides EL access to the leading U.S. earthquake researchers and practitioners.

What is the research plan?For the four agency NEHRP partnership, the Strategic Plan^[14] sets the global agenda through 2013. The plan has three strategic goals. Each of the goals has four or five major objectives. The Strategic Plan outlines nine strategic priorities for the program activities that deserve increased emphasis if resources are available to support them.The goals, objectives, and strategic priorities, as well as details regarding planned 2012 NEHRP Lead Agency activities, are presented in the 2012 Program Description, National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Office, so they are not repeated here.

As an integral part of the NEHRP Lead Agency role, NIST commissioned a National Research Council (NRC) study of the NEHRP Strategic Plan.Subsequently, in March 2011, the NRC published its proposed twenty-year earthquake research and implementation roadmap for the U.S., National Earthquake Resilience: Research, Implementation, and Outreach. This roadmap provides expert opinions on the specific activities that should be undertaken over the coming twenty years so that the nation achieves the broad goals set forth in the NEHRP Strategic Plan.NIST is in the process of assessing, with its NEHRP partners, the implications of the NRC roadmap on NEHRP future activities.

Since the restart of the NIST Earthquake Risk Reduction R&D Program in 2007, NIST projects that have been undertaken have largely focused on the immediate needs for NIST research that have been voiced in recent years by FEMA and earthquake practitioners, informed by several research needs documents that have been published. Following the posting of the NRC roadmap, NIST will undertake in 2012 (2011 funds) a specific research planning, or roadmapping, effort for the NIST earthquake engineering research activities that will provide prioritized near-term needs (less than three years); mid-term needs (3-5 years), and longer-term needs (5-8 years). This will facilitate future research planning that is strategic in nature and based on well-informed expert opinion.

For the immediate (2012) planning year, the ATC 57 “roadmap” approach^[15] will be employed to inform planning for the Earthquake Risk Reduction in Buildings and Infrastructure Program. Four areas of research have been targeted to support near- and long-term improvements to building and community disaster resilience with respect to the earthquake threat.Following is a brief description of each of these research areas:

Technical Support for Building Code Development^[16]: This research area consists of short-term practical, applied research projects that will improve seismic design practice and code development.National model building codes contain prescriptive seismic provisions that have largely evolved from practitioner experience, without specific research results to substantiate them.The prescriptive approach is certain to form the basis for seismic design for most U.S. buildings for the foreseeable future. EL will continue two in-house projects that were begun in 2011. First, based on field observations made following the 2010 Chile earthquake, model building code provisions that address structural irregularities and vertical distributions of design lateral loads are being addressed via analytical studies of several key buildings that were damaged in the 2010 earthquake. In that work, the accuracy of the current provisions is being assessed to determine if modifications to them are prudent. Second, seismic design of buildings in the eastern U.S., for which wind loading is also a significant consideration, is being assessed. The premise for this study is that the wind load design may create a degree of robustness in certain structural systems that will permit the ductility requirements for seismic design to be relaxed, thus saving construction costs without sacrificing safety.

The NEHRP Consultants Joint Venture (NCJV) is performing several extramural projects providing technical support for building code development that are continuing in 2012 but involve no 2012 funds. Those efforts are described in the appropriate 2010 and 2011 Project Descriptions.

Performance-Based Seismic Engineering^[17]:This research area supports the development of performance-based seismic engineering (PBSE) guidelines and prestandards for buildings.Since PBSE relies on a detailed understanding of the nonlinear behavior of buildings and other structures to failure, both basic and problem-focused research are needed to complement the input of practitioner knowledge.A 2008 NEHRP workshop produced a research and implementation needs report^[18].A major long-term focus to satisfy the cited needs is a laboratory test-to-failure program for critical structural elements, with testing to be performed at NEES facilities around the U.S. EL has four 2012 projects in this area, combining in-house and extramural resources.

The project Assessment of First Generation PBSE Methods is benchmarking the prevailing current PBSE methodology, which is based on ASCE 41^[19] analysis procedures for existing buildings, for several distinct lateral force-resisting systems, including parallel efforts in structural steel and reinforced concrete. Work in this area was cited as the highest performance-based seismic design (PBSD) research need in NIST GCR 09-917-2^[20].

The project Seismic Response of Reinforced Concrete Walls was precipitated by observations made in buildings damaged in the 2010 Chile earthquake.In the Chile earthquake, numerous significant failures of walls occurred.This project will focus on developing more accurate analytical modeling techniques for walls as well as examining current detailing procedures for walls that may be limiting nonlinear response of wall elements.An experimental component of the project, which will be performed on an extramural basis, will examine the performance of very thin wall sections, which seem to have created buckling failures in Chile.

The project Seismic Behavior of Steel Beam-Columns is a new start project that stems from observations made in an ongoing NCJV extramural project. Axially-loaded deep, slender wide-flange sections, such as those used as columns in seismically active areas will be characterized through a series of in-house analytical studies and extramural laboratory testing, to evaluate global and local buckling models and develop improved concepts of inelastic stability.

The project Nonlinear Seismic Analysis of Structures will focus on two primary areas in 2012.First, ongoing work on the development of nonlinear modal analysis techniques will be completed and reported. Second, rigorous procedures for benchmarking available commercial structural analysis software effectiveness in assessing structural collapse will be developed and validated. Work in this area was cited as the second highest performance-based seismic design (PBSD) research need in NIST GCR 09-917-2^[21].

The NCJV is performing several extramural projects providing PBSE support that are continuing in 2012 but involve no 2012 funds. Those efforts are described in the appropriate 2010 and 2011 Project Descriptions.

• National Design Guidelines:This research area synthesizes research results and practitioner experience, complemented by focused practical research efforts, to develop technical guidelines and manuals.No new activity is proposed for this research area in 2012. An ongoing NCJV project addresses port and harbor seismic design guideline development that complements an ongoing NSF-supported NEES Grand Challenge research.

• Evaluated Technology Dissemination:This research area evaluates and synthesizes available seismic hazard mitigation data, information, and technology into forms that can be used by design and construction practitioners.ATC 57 recommended that such synthesis documents, known as techbriefs, be produced on a variety of topics, including distillations of research findings into forms usable by practitioners, findings of professional committees and task groups, and cost-effective and code-compliant detailing practices.EL develops candidate techbrief topics in consonance with the earthquake practitioner community, based both on need and maturity of source information.A series of techbriefs is being produced, at the rate of one or two per year.Planned 2012 new projects in this area include a techbrief on seismic design wood roof and floor diaphragms and a techbrief on the seismic design of steel special braced frame systems.

• Enhanced Design Productivity and Interoperability:ATC 57 recommended an effort to improve design and construction industry productivity by incorporating seismic design codes, analysis tools, and methods into the International Alliance for Interoperability.This area, while important, is currently being deferred.

• Improved Evaluation and Strengthening for Existing Buildings:Older buildings are often far more susceptible to severe damage in earthquakes than newer ones that have been designed in accordance with modern building codes. Practitioner experience with seismic evaluation and strengthening for existing buildings has shown that evaluation guidelines that were developed by FEMA and are now promulgated by ASCE, ASCE 31-03^[22] and ASCE 41-06^[23], are very conservative and thus costly to implement, leading to limited adoption by building owners.These standards are largely based on practitioner input without the benefit of supporting research data, leading to their inherent conservatism.A 2007 NEHRP-sponsored workshop produced a prioritized research and implementation program to develop more accurate and less conservative evaluation and strengthening procedures for existing buildings^[24]. From that report, EL has developed a proposed multi-year problem-focused research initiative for 2013 or beyond.

One of the key areas noted in the workshop report, nonductile reinforced concrete (NDRC) frames, is being addressed in an ongoing NSF-supported NEES Grand Challenge project. NIST initiated a 2009 NCJV project to develop a knowledge transfer program for the NEES project. Two 2010 reports resulted from this project (see Major Accomplishments),  and NIST initiated a 2011 NCJV project to begin the development of collapse potential indicators for older reinforced concrete buildings, based on their construction details.

Other topic area work in this area will be deferred until the future research initiative is supported.

How will teamwork be ensured? At the program leadership level, NEHRP is by its very nature teamwork.It is a partnership of the four NEHRP agencies (FEMA, NIST, NSF, and USGS), which have developed a strong working relationship.The statutory Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) ensures that NEHRP communications, and subsequent decisions, occur at the agency administrator/director level, and that OMB and OSTP are involved in major decisions. In addition, at the encouragement of the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR), the Secretariat reaches out to other federal agencies that have earthquake-related missions (e.g., FHWA).

As the research program’s component projects are formulated, appropriate collaborations with the Materials and Construction Research Division, the Fire Research Division, the Applied Economics Office, the Statistical Research Division and Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division (ITL) will be developed. Partnerships with other federal agencies will complement the capabilities of the EL team.In particular, NEHRP is already a statutory partnership of FEMA, NIST, NSF, and USGS.Future experimental research will be performed using the assets on NEES (14 world-class research facilities around the U.S.).In addition, the ongoing NCJV contract affords access to leading researchers and practitioners around the nation.

 What is the impact if successful?NEHRP will significantly enhance earthquake resilience of the nation’s communities and built environment.As stated in the NEHRP Strategic Plan^[25], the NEHRP Vision is a nation that is earthquake-resilient in public safety, economic strength, and national security. NEHRP research and implementation efforts will result in reduced societal risk, cost, and operational impacts from earthquakes on individuals, businesses, and government.The program will also foster a transformation from prescriptive to performance-based design codes and standards, enabling innovation in materials, technologies, and system designs and fostering cost-effectiveness. This will enhance the U.S. construction industry’s international competitiveness.

Many key stakeholders have interests in the outcomes of this program: at-risk communities and the American public; governments at all levels that are responsible for mitigation and for response, recovery, and rebuilding in the aftermath of catastrophic disasters; design and construction practitioners; facility owners and operators; national standards and model building code developers; state and local building officials; and property risk insurers.NEHRP has been strongly endorsed in recent communications to Congress by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, and the NEHRP Coalition.

What is the standards strategy? NIST is responsible for performing applied research, development, and knowledge transfer activities that link NSF-supported basic research and other products to FEMA.FEMA has a well-established program of working with the Building Seismic Safety Council (BSSC) Provisions Update Committee (PUC) to develop new recommended model building code provisions that are considered for adoption by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and, in turn, the International Code Council. These recommended provisions are periodically published as the NEHRP Recommended Seismic Provisions for New Buildings and Other Structures, most recently released in 2009^[26]. These “recommended provisions” are then directly considered by the ASCE as it periodically releases it Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, most recently issued in 2010^[27].This ASCE Standard is then cited by direct reference in the International Building Code.This process is described in some detail in a recent NEHRP Seismic Waves article^[28].NIST engineers are members of the BSSC PUC and of the ASCE 7 Subcommittee on Seismic Loads, so knowledge and technologies developed at NIST may be considered directly.Similarly, this gives NIST insight and oversight on the seismic standards development process.

NIST engineers also participate in the ASCE committee that develops standards for evaluating and strengthening existing buildings^[29], so interactions similar to those for new buildings standards occur.NIST engineers also participate in the relevant technical committees of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

How will knowledge transfer be achieved?Knowledge transfer will largely be accomplished through the well-established NEHRP mechanism.NIST is responsible for performing applied research, development, and knowledge transfer activities that link NSF-supported basic research and other products to FEMA’s implementation activities.As described in the previous section,FEMA works through the BSSC to develop new recommended model building code provisions that are considered for adoption by ASCE and, in turn, the International Code Council. Implementation of the program results will better protect building occupants and property, lessen economic disruption, and enhance national disaster resilience when future earthquakes occur.EL will also develop and disseminate guidance and tools that assess and reduce building vulnerabilities, and produce recommended cost-effective changes in national model building codes, practices, and standards.

Major Accomplishments: 

Outcomes:

The NEHRP Secretariat was created at NIST in 2006, and the EL Earthquake Risk Mitigation R&D Program was re-energized beginning in 2007, following a long period of relative inactivity.

The NEHRP Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) met initially in April 2006 and has now met a total of nine times, providing program guidance from agency administrator/directors.The NEHRP Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR) was formed in mid-2007 and has met twice annually since.The ACEHR has provided annual assessment reports on the program to the NIST Director in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. At the working level, the NEHRP Program Coordination Working Group (PCWG) meets approximately monthly.The 2006 - 2009 annual reports have been released, and the 2010 annual report is in the formal clearance process.

The NEHRP Strategic Plan was released in October 2008^[30]. In March 2010, the National Research Council produced for NEHRP a twenty-year roadmap of all research and implementation activities needed to support improved national earthquake resilience^[31].

NEHRP has sponsored several researcher-practitioner workshops to assist in scoping strategic priorities that were identified in the Strategic Plan: research and implementation issues related to existing buildings (September 2007); research and implementation issues related to Performance-Based Seismic Design (May 2008); developing a Post-Earthquake Information Management System (July 2008); and developing and performing earthquake scenarios (September 2008). Comprehensive reports have been produced for three of the four workshops: existing buildings^[32], performance-based seismic design^[33], and Post-Earthquake Information Management System^[34].The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has created a scenario information and guidelines web site, based on the fourth workshop^[35].

NEHRP activated the first generation of the “NEHRP Document Clearinghouse,” where all NEHRP-related documents available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) are available on-line at no cost to the user^[36].

In June 2008, the NEHRP Director led a U.S. delegation to China for discussions with representatives of the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) regarding the May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and future research cooperation across the full spectrum of NEHRP.Following this, NIST, NSF, and USGS are working jointly as NEHRP with the Department of State on a new earthquake-related protocol with the China Earthquake Administration and National Natural Science Foundation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The protocol has been approved by all U.S. parties and awaits PRC approval before anticipated signature.

In June 2009 and April 2011, the NEHRP Director testified on behalf of the NEHRP agencies at the NEHRP reauthorization hearing, which was conducted by the Subcommittee on Innovation and Technology, Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives.

The NEHRP Director has re-initiated activities of the federal Interagency Committee on Seismic Safety in Construction (ICSSC), and NEHRP is in the process of working with BSSC and the ICSSC member agencies to update the Standards of Seismic Safety for Existing Federally Owned or Leased Buildings.

The NEHRP Director has re-initiated the formal bilateral relationship of the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Program on National Resources Panel on Wind and Seismic Effects.

Four techbriefs have thus far been produced by the NCJV:

• Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frames: A Guide for Practicing Engineers, NIST GCR 8-917-1^[37]; and,
• Seismic Design of Steel Special Moment Frames: A Guide for Practicing Engineers, NIST GCR 09-917-3^[38].
• Seismic Design of Cast-in-Place Concrete Diaphragms, Chords, and Collectors: A Guide for Practicing Engineers, NIST GCR 10-917-4^[39].
• Nonlinear Structural Analysis for Seismic Design: A Guide for Practicing Engineers, NIST GCR 10-917-5^[40].

Several other reports have recently been produced:

• Evaluation of Contemporary Design of Reinforced Concrete Lateral Resisting Systems Using Current Performance Objective Assessment Criteria, NISTIR 7766^[41].
• Concrete Model Building Subtypes Recommended for Use in Collecting Inventory Data, NIST GCR 10-917-6^[42].
• Program Plan for the Development of Collapse Assessment and Mitigation Strategies for Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings, NIST GCR 10-917-7^[43].
• Evaluation of the FEMA P-695 Methodology for Quantification of Building Seismic Performance Factors, NIST GCR 10-917-8.
• Applicability of Nonlinear Multiple-Degree-of-Freedom Modeling for Design, NIST GCR 10-917-9^[44].

EL is developing itsin-house research capabilities in the earthquake engineering area.The in-house and extramural efforts are complementary, with numerous new products anticipated in 2012..

As described previously, NIST awarded a major multi-year IDIQ research contract to the NEHRP Consultants Joint Venture (NCJV), a partnership of the Applied Technology Council (ATC) and the Consortium for University Research in Earthquake Engineering (CUREE), in late 2007.This has provided EL with significant opportunities to retain leading earthquake engineering practitioners and researchers to work on its projects. The NCJV is actively engaged in research on the tasks mentioned in this Program Description. The NCJV tasks are managed differently from in-house projects.NIST awards the NCJV tasks on a multi-year basis to provide complete products, whereas the in-house projects are all managed on an annual basis, with a zero-based budgeting philosophy that examines annual progress before decisions regarding new funding are made.

Recognition of EL: NIST GCR 09-917-3^[45] was awarded an Excellence in Engineering Award by the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California in 2010. The NEHRP Director received the Department of Commerce Silver Medal Award in 2010 for NEHRP leadership.