This special issue provided a forum for presentation and discussion of the latest findings and developments in the area of earthquake engineering. It is well known that earthquakes are catastrophic events inducing major human and economic losses. Structural failure may be avoided if preventive measures, such as the enhancement of various earthquake-resistant measures, are properly implemented. Assessment and enhancement of the seismic performance of buildings and structures is therefore of paramount importance.

This special issue contains a collection of eight original research papers covering concrete-filled steel tubular as well as CFRP-confined CFST stub columns, beam-to-column connections, double-layered truss walls, STS container cranes, liquid storage tanks, double-walled hollow pipe members, and a case study of a plate girder bridge.

A paper by C. Hansapinyo et al. presents an experimental study on the cyclic behavior of inclined concrete-filled steel tubular columns. The effect of inclination angle, concrete strength, and wall thickness on the loading capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation is investigated. A paper by Z.-J. Lyu et al. presents numerical results based on cyclic tests on different types of industrial rack joints. The geometrical factors in beam-to-column connections affecting the dynamic behavior of the braced racks are investigated with the aim of enhancing the seismic performance of the connections. A paper by Y. Guo and Y. Zhang presents a comparative study on the structural behaviors of concrete-filled steel tubular stub columns having both inner and outer confinements using CFRPs for seismic performance improvement of structures. A paper by Ishikawa studies partial cylindrical truss walls equipped with damper connections subjected to horizontal earthquake motions with the objective of enhancing the seismic performance of the structure. A paper by Q. H. Tran et al. investigates the suitability of two nonlinear static analysis procedures, i.e., capacity spectrum method and equivalent linearization method, for studying the seismic behavior of ship-to-shore container gantry cranes. A paper by A. Tsipianitis and Y. Tsompanakis focuses on the fragility analysis of tanks isolated by sliding bearings of various pendulum types by considering the isolators’ displacements due to near-fault earthquakes. A paper by M. N. Aye et al. surveys the damages sustained by some bridges affected by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and evaluates the seismic response of the Tawarayama Bridge via numerical modeling and analysis. A paper by L. Zhaohong et al. reports an experimental study on double-walled hollow pipe specimens subjected to low-cycle loading tests in order to investigate their energy dissipation and antiseismic performance.

It is the hope of the Editorial Team that this special issue will contribute in advancing the state-of-the-art towards seismic performance evaluation and improvement of future structures.

Conflicts of Interest

The editors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this special issue.

Tadeh Zirakian
David M. Boyajian
Vistasp M. Karbhari
Mikayel G. Melkumyan