Volume 3, Number 6, April 2006

Development of Rational Design Method for Reinforced ConcreteRock Shed Structures
Rock-shed structures are widely used in Japan to protect highways from rock fall disasters, seephotograph 1. For example, in the Hokkaido district, recent serious rock fall disasters haveoccurred along highways. Hokkaido and other locations in Japan are experiencing construction ofnew highways and maintenance of highways along cliff areas where rock sheds will be
constructed. The Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region, PWRI (located inHokkaido), is conducting research to develop the limit state design method of rock sheds.
Photograph 2 shows a full scale impact test to determine the behavior of rock shed caused by
impact load of rock fall. In a series of tests, a heavy weight was dropped on the reinforced concrete
beam to model the upper slab of rock shed structures. Moreover, the Institute conducts dynamic
numerical analysis using three-dimensional elasto-plastic Finite Element Method. Figure 1 shows
an example of the simulation analysis of the beam behavior.
Contact: Mr. Sin-ya Okada, Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Region, PWRI,okada@ceri.go.jp

WeightRC BeamPhotograph 1. Reinforced Concrete Rock Shed@Figure 1. Example of Numerical Analysis

Photograph 2. Weight Drop Tests on RC BeamTASK COMMITTEE B
SEEKING PARTNERS IN SHAPING ITS VISION
Task Committee B, Next-Generation Building and Infrastructure Systems is developing its vision
to conduct joint bilateral research candidate topics performed as a Task Committee and throughclustering with other Panel Task Committees (TC) and public/private sector collaborators. Panel
TCs include Transportation Systems and Fire Performance of Structures and the Panel’s focus onGeospatial Engineering and Public Health Following Natural Disasters. The Task Committee isframing a bilateral workshop planned for late 2006 or early 2007 where it will identify specificcooperative research topics and cooperative mechanism in two focus areas:
1. High-Performance Buildings• Performance-based design methodology• Advanced materials and Smart structure technologies• Multi-hazard resistance design to include fire, indoor air quality and other hazard
loadings in addition to earthquake and wind
2. High-Performance Infrastructure System• Health monitoring and response control of bridges• System performance of transportation network (and other lifeline systems)• Multiple-hazard resistant design methodologies
The vision and Workshop planning will be held during the 38th Joint Meeting of the Panel on Windand Seismic Effects. There is great potential in coordinating Panel’s work through clustering withother Panel Task Committees and with government agencies and the private sector as a way toleverage the ever scarce human and financial resources. As was pointed out in Panel Update, V 3,No 3, October 2005 “The potential for Panel leadership in fostering effective collaborative activities
should be leveraged to obtain support from other government agencies. While collaborations canoccur without the Panel’s intervention, this structure offers the strategic infrastructure which – ifproperly exercised – can lead to otherwise unrealizable efficiencies.”
We welcome your comments.
Contact: George C. Lee, Samuel P. Capen Professor, University at Buffalo, gclee@buffalo.edu