Earthquake Engineering Handbook

Dr. Chen is a Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii and Dr. Scawthorn is a Senior Vice President of a consulting engineering firm. This gives them different approaches to the subject and makes for a balanced book. Practical knowledge along with a research orientation gives readers the theory as well as the application.In the Introduction there is a table of Selected Earthquakes Since 1900 (Fatalities Greater than 1,000). The table provides the location, including latitude and longitude, as well as the deaths, damage in millions of dollars, and the magnitude of the earthquake. While on the list of world earthquakes the strongest ones have been outside the United States, the list of domestic earthquakes is interesting. The New Madrid, MO earthquake of 1812 was a magnitude of 8.7 making it the strongest earthquake recorded in the United States. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake was a magnitude of 8.3. In 1960 a Chilean earthquake was a magnitude of 9.5 making the strongest listed.There are sections on Earthquake Risk Management, Geoscience Aspects (including Tsunamis), Structural Aspects, and Infrastructure Aspects. The last section of the book deals with the impacts of earthquakes. Deaths and fires caused by earthquakes are covered. Mitigating damage and deaths, planning, estimating losses, and the insurance aspects of earthquakes are also explored.The book contains many black and white photographs that are informative and interesting. Some of the 1906 San Francisco photographs are fascinating. A section of color photographs are included in the middle of the book. Of perhaps more interest to engineers are the graphs and charts that explain the dynamic forces that work during an earthquake. There is much use of mathematical formulas in this book making it useful primarily to the engineers and scientists to which it is aimed. This is a comprehensive look at the subject. Recommended to all libraries supporting structural engineering collections, especially those in seismically active areas.Reviewer: John Napp, Assistant Professor of Library Administration/Engineering Librarian, University of Toledo Carlson Library, jnapp@utnet.utoledo.edu Copyright 2003 E-Streams Reviews