Research Area 1 (RA1): Built Environment
This encompasses the structures in which we live and occupy each day. They are analysed from a single-structure perspective in relation to their associated attributes; these cover the building typology (e.g., reinforced concrete, steel, unreinforced masonry), the occupancy type (e.g., residential, commercial, office) and other pertinent issues like the non-structural elements and building contents.
Research Area 2 (RA2): Critical Infrastructures
This encompasses the structures which form a more strategic and regional part of daily life. They are analysed singularly but to encompass their cascading effects on the networks to which they belong. Road, rail, water, gas or electric networks and other infrastructures like wind turbines and power plants are the main focus, which can then be subdivided based on more detailed attributes like typology (e.g., bridge, transmission line, concrete, steel), structural system (e.g., simply supported, arched, precast) in addition to the study of geotechnical issues and supplemental device behaviour (see also RA4).
Research Area 3 (RA3): Industrial Facilities
This encompasses the structures which form the basis of much industrial activity and whose characteristics and needs do not necessarily fall under RA1. In particular, industrial facilities like factories and production plants, which play a crucial role in the economical functionality of a region, are dealt with in a more specific manner. Issues like the structural performance of the unique structures that house such industrial production will be examined, in addition to the non-structural elements (see also RA1) and other components that typically occupy these facilities.
Research Area 4 (RA4): Advanced Technologies
Differing from the previous three RAs, this research area focuses on advancing technologies. This is done first from a mitigation devices perspective, whereby existing technologies such as base isolation, viscous dampers and other innovative green and sustainable materials are developed and can be readily implemented in practice. It is envisioned that their development can also indirectly impact RA1, RA2, and RA3 previously described. Secondly, this research area focuses on experimental techniques as a topic to be further developed. That is, the capacity of the different research infrastructures within ERIES to develop and expand their capabilities, with a focus on the different partners’ laboratories working together in a novel form of hybrid testing, will be given adequate consideration.