The majority of houses in the Groningen gas field region, the largest in Europe, consist of unreinforced masonry material. Because of their particular characteristics (cavity walls of different material, large openings, limited bearing walls in one direction, etc.) these houses are exceptionally vulnerable …

Invited presentation for Hanze PRO to TCMG "Tijdelijke Commissie Mijnbouwschade Groningen" and other seismic experts

Presentation at the MARUM Research Centre located at the University of Bremen about the Research Group on Earthquake Resistant Structures and its research

Presentation at the RCE, Amersfoort during the WTA-international (Wissenschaftlich-Technische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Bauwerkserhaltung und Denkmalpflege) meeting about earthquakes and building.

Fraeylemaborg is a noble house in an earthquake-stricken area of the Netherlands due to the induced seismicity events in the region. The structure is located in the middle of the town of Slochteren which gave its name to the largest gas field in the world upon its discovery in 1959. The gas extraction …

Nepal was hit by an earthquake of 7.9-magnitude on the 25t h of April 2015 (Ter Voorde, 2015). More than 7500 people lost their lives, around 16.000 people were injured, 285.000 houses were destroyed and another 234.000 were damaged (OCHA, 2015). The epicentre of the earthquake was very near to Gorkha …

The seismic performance of a two-story 2D frame and a five-story 3D frame–shear-wall structure founded on spread (isolated) footings is investigated. In addition to footings conventionally designed in accordance with “capacity-design” principles, substantially under-designed footings are also used. Such …

Existing unreinforced masonry buildings in seismically active regions are in urgent need of consolidation and preservation against seismic action to prevent damage and loss of financial resources. In this research, an experimental study of externally confined brick masonry piers, which are frequently …

Ever since the recognition of the causality between earthquakes in the Region Groningen, gas production and the ensuing damage to houses and buildings in that area, government faces big challenges in policy-making. On the one hand liability for damages must result in fast and effective repair of houses …