NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SEISMIC RISKREDUCTION
R. Vacareanu1), A. Aldea1), C. Arion1), D. Lungu1), V. Popa1), E.S. Georgescu2)
ABSTRACTThe aim of the present paper is to describe the seismic risk reduction efforts in Romania. Seismic risk
reduction in Romania can be achieved through several types of actions from which the major ones are(i) seismic vulnerability assessment, (ii) seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings and modern
earthquake-resistant design for new buildings, (iii) increased number of recorded strong groundmotions in conjunction with accurate soil characterization, and (iv) education and information of
citizens. In this respect, a great support for Romanian efforts for seismic risk reduction came through aJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project in Romania, implemented by the National
Centre for Seismic Risk Reduction (NCSRR) in the period of 2002-2008. The Project and NCSRR's
activities are described in the present paper.

INTRODUCTION
The Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism in Romania (MDRT) is currently developing 3
main programs for seismic risk reduction in Romania:- Program for the retrofitting of multi-storey residential buildings – Romanian Government iscurrently supporting from public funds the retrofitting of multi-storey seismic vulnerable residentialbuildings, irrespective of the ownership type;- High emergency retrofitting program for public interest buildings – this program addresses to thehigh importance buildings, historical monuments, etc. The retrofitting of these structures is supported
by MDRT;- Program for risk mitigation and preparedness for natural disaster co-financed by Word Bank andInternational Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
As a result of the seismic evaluation in Bucharest, 392 residential buildings were ranked asseismic risk class I (on a scale from I to IV), and MDRT decided to retrofit them with high priority.
Based on the first program 15 buildings have been retrofitted, 6 are under retrofitting workand for 19 buildings the retrofitting work is being prepared to start the works. Moreover, design forseismic retrofitting is ready to start or undergoing for 23 buildings.
The World Bank program for seismic risk reduction worth of 73.7 mil USD (from which
56.9 mil USD are to be paid by International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and 16.8 by
Romanian Government) and co-financed by the owners with 108 mil USD lead to the retrofitting of 8
public buildings of high importance. 17 buildings are under retrofitting and 18 buildings will follow.
Moreover, MDRT is paying efforts towards issuing and revision of seismic design,evaluation and retrofitting codes and guidelines for quick inspection of damaged buildings after theearthquake. At central governmental level a comprehensive risk management program is underdevelopment. This comprises all kind of hazards: natural hazards, industrial hazards, pollution etc.
MDRT is coordinating the cell of the Commission for Emergency Management handling theearthquake related hazards. MDRT is constantly supporting the management and development of theengineering seismic networks within it's specialized subordinated institutions.
While the public authorities are responsible for issuing modern regulations, implementing
1) Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest (UTCB)
2) Urban-INCERC, Bucharest, Romania

the effective construction quality control system and easy access of owners to the technical and legal
tools, the research institutes and universities are called to play the major role in seismic risk mitigation
by extensive research and education of practitioners and general public.
In this respect, a great support for Romanian efforts for seismic risk reduction came througha Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project in Romania, implemented by the National
Centre for Seismic Risk Reduction (NCSRR) in the period of 2002-2008. The Project and NCSRR's
activities are described in the present paper.

NATIONAL CENTER FOR SEISMIC RISK REDUCTION
Since modern or/and cost time-effective retrofitting strategies and techniques were not fully available
to Romanian structural engineers, at the initiative of Technical University of Civil Engineering
Bucharest (UTCB), the Romanian Government requested in 1998 to the Japanese Government (Japan
International Cooperation Agency, JICA) to begin a technical cooperation on the seismic risk
reduction focused on the improvement of retrofitting techniques. Extensive negotiations started andseveral Japanese investigation teams visited Romania. Also, from 2000 a long-term Japanese expert
was dispatched at UTCB for supporting the construction of the cooperation Project.
After four years of intensive efforts the Project Design Matrix (PDM) was defined andagreed, and on August 1, 2002, the Record of Discussions (RD) was signed between MDRT of
Romania and JICA. The JICA Project started on October 1st, 2002 with NCSRR as the implementing
agency. The initial planned duration of the Project was five years, but after Romanian side request, an
extra half year was accepted, and the Project ended on 31 March 2008.
According to the RD of the JICA Project the purpose was “Improving and dissemination of
the technologies for reducing building collapse in case of devastating earthquakes are achieved”. The
target of the Project were the Romanian citizens, in particular those in Bucharest. All along the project
was carried out a sustained activity of dissemination to the Romanian civil engineers of modern
techniques and methodologies, and seminars for disaster prevention education were held for citizens.
The implementing agency of the JICA Technical Cooperation Project on the Reduction ofSeismic Risk for Buildings and Structures was the National Centre for Seismic Risk Reduction(NCSRR) as a public institution of national interest, a specialized legal entity created in 2002,
subordinated to the MDRT of Romania. The main activities of the NCSRR are as follows:- Studying, evaluating, applying and disseminating new technologies for retrofitting the earthquake
vulnerable buildings and structures;- Supporting the revision of codes and regulations for earthquake resistant design, seismic evaluation
and retrofitting;- Seismic instrumentation (with focus on Bucharest) and soil testing;- Transfer of state-of-the-art knowledge in the domain of earthquake engineering to specialists throughthe organization of seminars, symposiums and conferences;- Issuing documentation regarding education of the population for preventing the seismic
consequences;- Improvement of technical knowledge by training, studies and documentation, seminars, courses andlectures in Romania and abroad;- Promotion of the international cooperation in the domain of seismic risk management;- Publishing papers, studies and publications in the field of earthquake engineering;- Other activities related to national and international projects.
The activities of NCSRR were carried out in partnership with Technical University of Civil
Engineering Bucharest (UTCB) and National Institute for Research and Development in Construction
and Construction Economics (INCERC) Bucharest. The main Japanese research institutions that
supported JICA were the National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) and the
Building Research Institute (BRI).
During the JICA Project period, twenty nine (29) Romanian researchers/engineers weretrained in Japan, seven (7) Japanese long-term experts and thirty seven (37) Japanese short-term

experts were dispatched to Romania. Within the Project, equipments for seismic instrumentation, forsoil investigation and soil testing, and for seismic testing of structural elements rising up
approximately to 260 million yens (i.e. 2.2 million USD) were donated by JICA to Romania, through
NCSRR. The total JICA financed Project cost was 7 million USD.
The activities of the NCSRR were carried out in four divisions, namely:- Division 1 - Building Retrofitting and Design Codes- Division 2 - Seismic Observation Network- Division 3 – Technical Experimentation for Soil and Structures- Division 4 – Dissemination of Knowledge and Training of Engineers.
NCSRR experimental research on structural elements
The main purpose of the structural testing conducted at NCSRR was to try to identify the behavior ofstructural members designed according to the Romanian state of practice at different periods of time.
This objective implies the identification of the failure pattern and the evaluation of the parameters thatcan describe in a favorable manner the member’s behavior (e.g. for reinforced concrete members:
yielding force and displacement, displacement ductility, ultimate bending force, ultimate shear
capacity, etc.). While some of these parameters can be reliably evaluated by analytical means, othercan only be identified by experimental research. For example, the analytical procedures available forthe evaluation of the shear capacity of reinforced concrete elements are calibrated to be used in thedesign of new structural system, therefore these procedures offer conservative values of the capacity.
These values cannot be used to reliably identify the capacity of the structural system although they are
perfectly suited for the checking of the performance objectives criteria. Moreover, worldwide
developed capacity assessment or design equations can be used only after a reliable confirmation by
structural testing in a particular country. The suitability of each relation strongly depends on the stateof practice in each country given not only the traditional construction materials and techniques but
also quality of workmanship.
Therefore, structural testing is an essential tool in the process of issuing or revising design,evaluation and retrofitting codes. The experimental testing was developed as key component of theseismic risk reduction in Romania within the JICA technical cooperation project.
The structural testing facility consists of a steel reaction frame, loading control device, dataacquisition and processing systems. The reaction frame is similar to the one existing at Building
Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan. The maximum weight of tested specimens is 70kN and the
maximum dimensions of the specimens are 2.5m by 3.0 m.
The following load combinations are possible with this provided equipment: bending withshear force for beam testing; bending with shear and axial force for column, shear wall and portal
frame; bending and shear tests for frame joints; shear test for slabs.
This structural testing facility, worthy of approximately 1 million US$, was donated by JICA
to the NCSRR and installed in March/April 2004 at the NCSRR UTCB site, Bucharest Figure 1.

200 t± 100 mm

7.6 m
100 t

100 t
± 200 mm

9.7 m

Figure 1. Overall dimensions, force and stroke capacities of reaction frame loading system

The number of tested specimens since 2004 is presented in Table 1. At the beginning, thetesting effort concentrated on vulnerable concrete elements designed and detailed according to thestate of practice in Romania at the middle of the 20th century. Subsequently, masonry walls, RC slabs,
and steel braces were tested.
Table 1. Current status of structural tests
Structural element
RC columns
RC walls
Masonry walls
Steel braces
Energy dissipation device
RC slabs

Number of tested specimens since 2004
22
5
45
3
1
14

Strong ground motion observation and soil investigation
The main objectives of NCSRR activities for seismic strong motion observation and soil testing are:- Seismic strong ground motion data collection (in free field and boreholes);- Seismic strong motion data collection in buildings to study buildings behavior;- Revision of strong ground motion design parameters and developing new models for strong groundmotion studies;- Ground condition characterization (especially at seismic station sites) through site investigation andlaboratory soil testing.
The equipment for strong ground motion observation, NCSRR staff installed soil testing andinvestigation donated from JICA in 2003 with technical support from Japanese experts and techniciansfrom OYO Seismic Instrumentation Corp. dispatched in Romania especially for this purpose.
Starting from 2005 NCSRR network was enlarged with Romanian investment (within the budget
ensured by MDRT), other sites and buildings being instrumented with Geosig equipments andtechnical support. Nowadays NCSRR digital network consists of 40 accelerometers (6 ETNA, 11 K2,
10 IA-1, 3 GSR), 34 under exploitation and 6 under installation.
Free-field seismic stations for ground motion attenuation analysis
Six Kinemetrics ETNA stations were installed in 2003 on the SW direction starting from Vrancea
epicentral area toward Bucharest, for ground motion attenuation analysis. All of them are in buildings
with 1 or 2 storeys, which can be considered as a free field condition. Ground conditions are underinvestigation. One Geosig IA-1 accelerometer was installed in 2007, on a perpendicular axis to the SW,
direction that will be further instrumented.
Seismic stations for site effects assessment in Bucharest
NCSRR installed in 2003 in Bucharest seven (7) Kinemetrics K2 stations with sensors at groundsurface (close to free-field conditions) and in boreholes at two levels of depth: the first level at about
30m depth and the second level between 52m and 153m depth. In 2005 another site in Bucharest was
instrumented with Geosig equipments (free-field and a 30m depth borehole). In 2011 a boreholestation is envisaged to be installed in the city of Iasi (NE from Bucharest). At all the stations the soil
profile of the boreholes is known, and NCSRR and Tokyo Soil Corp. (Japan) performed down-holetests. A brief description of the borehole instrumentation is given in Table 2.
Seismic stations for structural monitoring
Two residential buildings and two public buildings were instrumented in 2003 with Kinemetrics
instruments. In 2006 the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest UTCB main building
and in 2008-2009 the Faculty of Civil Engineering Brasov were instrumented with Geosig instruments.

All sensors are tri-axial acceleration sensors, their orientation follows the transversal and longitudinal
directions of the buildings. In the case of Kinemetrics instrumentation, all sensors are connected to one
K2 acquisitions station that also has an internal sensor. In case of Geosig instrumentation are used two
acquisition stations with internal sensors. The building instrumentation is described in Table 3.
Table 2. NCSRR Seismic Network – free field and borehole instrumentation in Bucharest
No.

Site

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UTCB Tei/NCSRRUTCB Pache
INCERC/NCSRR
Civil Protection Hdq.
Filantropia Hospital
City Hall
Municipal Hospital
UTCB Plevnei

Surface sensors
location
free field
1 storey building
1 storey building
1 storey building
free field
free field
free field
free field

Shallowborehole depth
-28
-28
-24
-28
-28
-28
-30
-30

Deep borehole
depth
-78
-66
-153
-68
-151
-52
-70
-

Type of instruments
K2/FBA-23DH
K2/FBA-23DH
K2/FBA-23DH
K2/FBA-23DH
K2/FBA-23DH
K2/FBA-23DH
K2/FBA-23DH
GSR24/ AC23-DH

Table 3. NCSRR Seismic Network – Building instrumentation
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Site
Station(s) location
Stefan cel Mare 1
10th floor (base)
Stefan cel Mare 2
basement
TVR Tower
13th floor (base)
BRD-GSG Tower
19th floor
Faculty of Civil
3rd floor (top) &Engineering, Bucharest basement
Faculty of Civil
8th floor top &basement
Engineering, Brasov

Sensor 1
10th floor (top)
7th floor (top)13th floor (top)
3rd basement

Sensor 2
4th floor
Free fieldbasement-

Sensor 3
basement-

Type of instruments
K2/Episensor ES-T
K2/Episensor ES-T
K2/Episensor ES-T
K2/Episensor ES-T

-

-

-

IA-1

-

-

-

IA-1

Since its installation in 2003, the NCSRR network recorded almost 200 seismic motions
from over 30 earthquakes (from Vrancea subcrustal and crustal seismic sources, and also from
Bulgaria and North Dobrogea shallow sources) with moment magnitudes ranging from Mw=3.2 to 6.0.
The October 27, 2004 Vrancea earthquake (Mw=6.0, focal depth 98.6km) is the strongest recorded
until now by the NCSRR seismic network and is the strongest event since 1990. The earthquake wasfelt on large areas but produced almost no damage (as reported by news agencies). In Figure 2 arepresented examples of ground motions recorded during the October 27, 2004 earthquake.
Microtremor observation is another activity developed within the Project by Division 2.
Portable acquisition stations and sensors were also donated by JICA. Microtremors were measured onbuildings and on ground (single-station of array measurements) for the identification of building
dynamic characteristics, for the evaluation of site response characteristics and for identification ofseismic velocity profiles.
Until today the following measurements were performed:- Single station measurements of ground ambient vibrations – 19 locations- Array measurements of ground ambient vibrations – 5 locations- Measurements of building ambient vibrations – 7 buildings.
A joint activity of Divisions 2 and 3 is the borehole geophysical investigation (PS-logging
tests) for identification of seismic velocities at different sites. The equipments were also donated by
JICA. Until today, more than 30 PS logging tests were performed.

Figure 2. Seismic records obtained in NCSRR network during Vrancea earthquake of October 27, 2004
Starting with 2003, NCSRR received, as a donation from JICA, the drilling equipment
FRASTE Type Multidrill XL, which has as attachments an automatic device used for Standard
Penetration Test. In July 2004, NCSRR received as donation from JICA the CPT equipment from
Geomil, Holland. In July 2003 the triaxial equipment manufactured by Seiken Inc. Japan and donated
by JICA was installed at NCSRR. The equipment fulfils all the requirements of the Japanese
Geotechnical Society, 2000. In Figure 3 and Figure 4 are presented the Division 3 equipments.
Researches of the dynamic characteristics of soil have been carried out using laboratory soil
testing and in situ tests, including geophysical methods. Using the equipments donated within the
Project, Division 3 performed the following activities:- Drilling boreholes – 17
- CPT tests – 5- SPT tests – 35
- Surface wave tests – 6- Dynamic triaxial tests – 43
- Static triaxial tests – 45
- Bender element tests – 15.

Figure 3. Drilling equipment on truck

Figure 4. Dynamic triaxial equipment

NCSRR activities for dissemination and education of citizens and engineers
Seminars for engineers, inhabitants of vulnerable residential buildings and students were organized by
NCSRR in cooperation with MDRT and Bucharest City Hall Office. The total number of seminars
amounted at 32, out of which 4 were for citizens, 7 for students and 21 for engineers. The importanceof preparedness for the next big earthquakes such as adequate behavior in the earthquake and seismic
evaluation and retrofitting of the vulnerable buildings were emphasized in these seminars.

Seminars for engineers are organized by NCSRR in cooperation with UTCB and INCERC.
Lecturers in these seminars are Japanese experts and the staff of NCSRR. The Project contributed in
the preparation of a series of educational leaflets to instruct disaster preparedness for school children
as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Manuals on disaster preparedness for school children
For efficient information of the students and engineers regarding the implementation ofretrofitting works, a full scale model of one story frame was constructed at UTCB. Using this frame,
Figure 6, various retrofitting techniques were applied: concrete infill wall, steel brace, steel jacketing,fiber carbon jacketing for columns and beams.

Figure 6. Model frame with retrofitting solutions
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES IN ROMANIA WITH
JICA SUPPORTThe International JICA Seminar "Earthquake hazard and Countermeasures for Existing Fragile
Buildings" was organized at UTCB in 2000. The event was entirely supported by JICA. The
International Conference ELERR "Earthquake Loss Estimation and Risk Reduction" was organized at
the Romanian Academy in 2002 . The event was jointly supported by JICA and by two otherinternational research projects (SFB 461 and RISK-UE).

The ISSRR2007 "International Symposium on Seismic Risk Reduction, The JICA TechnicalCooperation Project in Romania" was organized at the Romanian Academy in 2007. The event was
entirely supported by JICA and sponsors, and was attended by 188 peoples from 13 countries.
On the occasion of these events, the following publications were issued:- Earthquake hazard and Countermeasures for Existing Fragile Buildings, 2001. Contributions fromJICA International Seminar, Bucharest, Romania, November 23-24, 2000, Lungu, D., Saito, T. (Ed.),
Independent Film, Bucharest, 315 p;- Proceedings of the International Conference "Earthquake Loss Estimation and Risk Reduction",
Lungu, D., Wenzel, F., Mouroux, P., Tojo, I., (Ed.), 366p + 421p;- Proceedings of the International Symposium on Seismic Risk Reduction. The JICA TechnicalCooperation Project in Romania, Ed. Orizonturi Universitare, Timisoara, 753p.
Within the JICA Technical Cooperation Project for Seismic Risk Reduction, NCSRR and
JICA organized in the period July 25 – July 27, 2007 the Training Program on Seismic Risk Reduction.
Ten engineers from universities and design offices participated in the program. The topics of the lectures
covered the fields of seismic evaluation and retrofitting and geotechnical earthquake engineering.

CONCLUSIONS OF THE FINAL EVALUATION FOR THE PROJECT
According to the evaluation report prepared by the Joint Evaluation Team, the Project has been
implemented timely and properly according to the Record of Discussions towards the achievement of
the Project Purpose. The Project Purpose and Overall Goal are valid and in line with the policy of
MDRT as well as with the principle of Japanese cooperation to Romania.
In the Project, the followings are the most highly rated achievements:- The first retrofitting design using modern techniques was completed for a soft-story building in
Bucharest;- seminars and meetings with the residents in vulnerable buildings, students and engineers were held
frequently, which improved their understanding on the earthquake effects and countermeasures;- as a result of the cooperation between JICA experts at NCSRR and INCERC, manuals of earthquake
education for school students were issued;- state of the art equipments were provided and are operated properly by Romanian counterparts.
In July 2010 MDRT decided to dismantle the NCSRR. All the NCSRR researchers involvedin the JICA project, but two, are presently at UTCB.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTNCSRR deeply acknowledge the generous, continuous and long-lasting financial support of JICA
during the implementation of the Project. The technical support of Building Research Institute (BRI),
Tsukuba and National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM), Tsukuba, Japan
provided to NCSRR staff is gratefully acknowledged. The partnership between NCSRR, UTCB and
INCERC for the implementation of the JICA Project is valuated.

REFERENCE
Nagata, K., Vacareanu, R. 2007 – Joint Terminal Evaluation Report on the Project on Reduction ofSeismic Risk for Buildings and Structures, 20p.
Vacareanu, R., Aldea, A., Arion, C., Lungu, D., Aug. 2003. “Toward the seismic microzonation of
Bucharest -city, Romania: The National Center for Seismic Risk Reduction and the JICA Project”,
Research Reports on Earthquake Engineering, No. 87, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, p.29-33.