Rotational Earthquake Motions – International Working Group and Its Activities

Abstract eng:
The motion of a point is specified completely by its six components: three translations and three rotations. Traditionally, only the translational components of the earthquake ground shaking and structural response have been recorded. In part, the absence of direct observations of rotational motions resulted from lack of inexpensive rotational sensors with sufficient sensitivity to measure small rotations caused by earthquakes. Recently, however, rotations from teleseismic and small local earthquakes were successfully recorded (ring laser gyros, fiber optic gyros, electro-chemical sensors, etc.), in Japan, Poland, Germany, New Zealand, and Taiwan. This paper introduces the recently formed International Working Group on Rotational Seismology (IWGoRS) and its activities (http://www.rotational-seismology.org). This group aims to promote investigations of rotational motions (of ground and in structures) and their implications, and to facilitate sharing of experience, data, software and results in an open web-based environment. Its activities include publications, organizing professional meetings, and interactions with professional bodies in engineering and science. Anyone who is interested can join IWGoRS, and its website is freely accessible. H. Igel and W.H.K. Lee serve as co-organizers, and M.D. Trifunac leads the task force for strong motion and earthquake engineering. The IWGoRS recently organized the First International Workshop on Rotational Seismology and Engineering Applications, hosted by U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California, U.S.A., on Sept. 18 - 19, 2007, convened by W.H.K. Lee, M. Celebi and M Todorovska. This meeting was attended by more than 60 participants from 13 countries. The key issues and research directions were reviewed with emphasis on their relevance for earthquake engineering. A special issue of the Bulletin of Seismological Society of America on Rotational Seismology and Engineering Applications is being prepared under the guest editorship of W.H.K. Lee, M. Celebi, M.I. Todorovska, and H. Igel, and is scheduled to appear in May, 2009. It will be dedicated to the emerging field of seismological research on all aspects of rotational ground motions (including theory, instrumentation, observation, and interpretation) from teleseismic and local earthquakes, as well as to rotations in structural response. It will contain original articles, short technical notes, in-depth and up-to-date reviews, and tutorials. The next workshop will be organized in Europe in 2009 by H. Igel, U. Schreiber and A. Cochard. This paper summarizes the key issues and future directions in engineering applications of rotational motions identified in group discussions at the First International Workshop on Rotational Seismology and Engineering Applications, and is based on the workshop proceedings.

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