Strong Earthquakes: A Challenge for Geosciences and Civil Engineering--A New Collaborative Research Center in Germany

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 461 Strong Earthquakes: A Challenge for Geosciences and Civil Engineering has been funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) and is supported by the State of Baden-Wurtemberg and the University of Karlsruhe. Collaborative Research Centers (SonderForschungsBereiche—SFB) aim at strategic research on issues that require intensive cooperation across various disciplines. CRCs form a framework for the development of these interactions and are expected to operate with a long-term (6 to 12 years) perspective. CRCs are peer-reviewed every three years. CRC 461 was established in July 1996 and aims at strategic research in the field of strong earthquakes with a regional focus on earthquakes and earthquake engineering in Romania. OBJECTIVES The focus of the research program is the strong earthquake activity in the Romanian Vrancea area (Figure 1). Over several centuries strong earthquakes in this area have caused a high toll of casualties and damage...