Concrete buildings in seismic regions This practical book presents current approaches to seismic analysis and design with a particular focus on reinforced concrete structures. It covers the earthquake resistant design of new buildings and the assessment repair and retrofit strengthening of existing buildings. It also covers the post earthquake damage assessment and evaluation of existing buildings and outlines the seismic risk mitigation procedures for urban regions. The book is for practicing engineers and graduate students Preface This book is addressed primarily to postgraduate students in earthquake engineering and to practicing structural engineers specialising in the design of R C seismic resistant buildings. The basic aims that have guided the composition of the material of this book are the following: 1. The presentation of the content should be characterised by integrity clarity and simplicity particularly for the design procedure of new R C buildings or assessment and retrofitting of existing ones. In this respect it would constitute integrated knowledge for a student. We hope that the long experience of the first of the authors in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students about R C earthquake resistant structures augurs well for the achievement of this aim. 2. The presentation of the scientific background of each subject should be made in a concise form with all the necessary but at the same time limited references to the sources so that enough of an open field is available for a rigorous and systematic approach to the implementation of the scientific background in design procedure. In this context this book would be valuable for a practicing engineer who wants to have in depth knowledge of the background on which the Code rules are based. We hope that the extensive experience of both authors in the seismic design of new R C buildings and in the assessment and retrofitting of existing ones together with the wide experience of the first in posts of responsibility in seismic risk management in Greece contribute to a balanced merging of the scientific background with practical design issues. At the same time the numerical examples that are interspersed in the various chapters also intend to serve this aim