HSI Report: Building Structures
and Seismic ResistantTechnologies
University News | September 14, 2021
The Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI) 2021 “Building Structures andSeismic Resistant Technologies” course was designed to introduce theparticipants to the theory and method of designing earthquakeresistant structures. Dr. Kazutaka Shirai (Associate Professor of
Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Engineering, Building Structure
Control Laboratory) introduced key concepts through lectures andexperiments over the course of 4 days (August 23-26, 2021).

Associate Professor Kazutaka Shirai giving a lecture.

Seismic resistant technologies have been developed and re-developed
in search for the most ideal earthquake-proof construction, especiallyin the earthquake-prone Japan. In his lectures, Dr. Shirai revisited pastearthquakes and had the participants look at some noteworthy

Japanese buildings from the perspective of their seismic retrofits andelements surrounding the buildings.
“In assessing the best features to apply to a building, we also need toconsider aspects other than the superstructure, like the soil,” explained
Dr. Shirai in one of his presentations. He also introduced some lowcost and sustainable seismic vibration control materials, such as theapplication of scrap rubber pads made of tires of automobiles.
Naturally, the course did not entirely consist of lectures. Course
participants were able to get several hands-on experiences. From theshaking table test experiment, the truss structure building activity, tolearning how to use a numerical simulation software in analyzing
structures; through these activities, students learnt various factors that
may or may not contribute to a building’s resistance towards
earthquakes.

Students building truss structures. They competed to see who could make the structurewith highest endurance through a simple vibration test.

Keishi Tateda is an undergraduate student in mechanical engineeringfrom University of California, San Diego, USA. In his first HSI
experience, he decided to take this course as a part of his interestexploration quest. “To be honest, I have minimal knowledge andbackground in earthquakes and seismic-resistant structures. But
through this course, I gained a lot of new things and had a great time,
especially in the truss structure activity.”
Tateda was not the only participant without prior knowledge ofseismic-resistant engineering. This year, the course was also attended
by students from the School of Science and Graduate School ofMedicine. Despite having lesser knowledge in the subject incomparison to their classmates of engineering background, they werestill able to clearly grasp the concepts introduced by the facilitator.
Every student went through trial-and-error to achieve their best result
in applying what they had been learning in the course.

Dr. Kazutaka Shirai explaining the mechanics and purpose of friction damper through ashaking table test experiment. Students applied the dampers and observed how thevibration responses were reduced.

This year’s HSI marked Dr. Shirai’s third year of holding this course.
Last year the course had to be held online due to the early period of theCoronavirus pandemic. This year, while the majority of HSI courses arestill held online, Dr. Shirai managed to bring it back to its on-site form,
maintaining the proper measures for preventing the Coronavirus
spread.

Dr. Shirai did admit that most of the applicants from overseas
universities had to cancel their applications. “However, all this years’participants, including those with non-engineering backgrounds,participated very well. It was shown through their presentations andnicely written assignments.” said Dr. Shirai. “They presented good
designs of truss buildings which was not an easy task. It is difficult tobuild a 3D model. Yet, they came up with good designs.”
The “Building Structures and Seismic Resistant Technologies” isplanned to be offered in the upcoming years’ HSI; Professor Shirai
gladly welcomes anyone who is interested and curious in the subject.
To receive information about HSI 2022, sign up for a reminder throughthe following link:
https://hokkaidosummerinstitute.oia.hokudai.ac.jp/E-Notices/

Written by Aprilia Agatha Gunawan