Qualitative und quantitative Beschreibung der Erdbebenwirkung

During the last year, two earthquakes caused a great loss in human lives and much property damage in Algeria and Italy. These events raise the question of whether the engineering seismology methods currently in use are adequate. It can be shown that the seismic input parameters for planning and design of structures in earthquake-prone areas may be deduced from experience. The development of seismic response spectra on a statistical basis offers the possibility of making assumptions about future seismic loads taking the regional seismicity and the local underground situation into account.