Semester-wise syllabus outline for an M.Tech in Earthquake Engineering

Semester 1: Core Principles 

1. Seismology & Earthquake Mechanics 

   - Plate tectonics, seismic wave propagation, fault mechanisms, magnitude/intensity scales (Richter, Mercalli). 

2. Structural Dynamics 

   - SDOF/MDOF systems, response spectra, time-history analysis, damping models. 

3. Earthquake-Resistant Design of Structures 

   - IS 1893, ASCE 7, Eurocode 8, ductility concepts, base isolation, and energy dissipation devices. 

4. Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering

   - Soil-structure interaction, liquefaction, site response analysis, slope stability during earthquakes. 

5. Lab 1: Basics of Seismic Analysis 

   - ETABS/SAP2000 for linear static/dynamic analysis, MATLAB for response spectrum generation. 

Semester 2: Advanced Analysis & Design 

1. Nonlinear Structural Analysis 

   - Pushover analysis, plastic hinge modeling, performance-based design (FEMA 356/440). 

2. Seismic Hazard & Risk Assessment 

   - Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), fragility curves, risk mitigation strategies. 

3. Retrofitting & Rehabilitation of Structures 

   - Strengthening techniques (FRP, steel jacketing), code-compliant retrofit strategies. 

4. Elective 1 (e.g., Tsunami Engineering or GIS in Disaster Management) 

5. Lab 2: Advanced Simulation & Experimentation 

   - Nonlinear dynamic analysis in OpenSees, shake-table experiments, sensor data acquisition (accelerometers). 

Semester 3: Specialization & Project Work 

1. Elective 2 (e.g., Urban Resilience Planning or Seismic Design of Bridges) 

2. Elective 3 (e.g., Machine Learning for Seismic Risk Prediction or Advanced Masonry Design) 

3. Disaster Management & Mitigation 

   - Post-earthquake assessment, emergency response, community resilience frameworks. 

4. Project Work Part 1 

   - Case studies (e.g., Bhuj/Kobe earthquake analysis), retrofitting design projects, fieldwork. 

5. Professional Workshops 

   - Training on industry tools (STAAD.Pro, PLAXIS), seminars on recent codes (NBC, IBC). 

Semester 4: Thesis/Dissertation 

- Independent Research Thesis 

  - Focus areas: AI-driven seismic vulnerability assessment, innovative base isolators, regional hazard mapping, etc. 

  - Submission and defense of dissertation. 

Elective Options (Semesters 2–3): 

- Seismic Design of High-Rise Buildings 

- Earthquake Early Warning Systems 

- Computational Geotechnics (PLAXIS, GeoStudio) 

- Historical & Monumental Structure Conservation 

- Smart Materials for Seismic Applications 

- Post-Disaster Reconstruction Policies 

Key Software & Tools:

- Analysis: ETABS, SAP2000, OpenSees, SeismoStruct, PLAXIS. 

- Hazard Mapping: GIS (ArcGIS, QGIS), ShakeMap, HAZUS. 

- Fieldwork: Ground-penetrating radar (GPR), accelerometers, LiDAR for structural health monitoring. 

Lab/Practical Focus: 

1. Shake-Table Testing: Simulating seismic loads on scaled models. 

2. Field Surveys: Site investigations for liquefaction potential, soil profiling. 

3. Retrofit Design Projects: Using FRP wraps, dampers, or base isolators. 

4. Case Study Analysis: Reviewing past earthquakes (e.g., 2001 Bhuj, 2015 Nepal).