| Ref.No: | 63270800 |
| Start date: | 01.02.2026 |
| End date: | 31.07.2027 |
| Approval date: | 15.10.2025 |
| Department: | CIVIL ENGINEERING |
| Sector: | STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING |
| Financier: | HORIZON ERC, E.C. |
| Budget: | 150.000,00 € |
| Public key: | Ρ7ΓΙ46ΨΖΣ4-5ΥΔ |
| Scientific Responsible: | Assist. Prof. MIHAIL VASILEIOU |
| Email: | mfvassiliou@mail.ntua.gr |
| Description: | EVEN THOUGH EARTHQUAKES ARE A GLOBAL PHENOMENON, THEIR CONSEQUENCES ARE UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED. MOST EARTHQUAKE DEATHS OCCUR IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WHERE BUILDING SAFETY IS OFTEN COMPROMISED. THIS STEMS NOT FROM NEGLIGENCE BUT FROM ECONOMIC LIMITATIONS THAT PREVENT COMPLIANCE WITH COSTLY CODES. SINCE EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT TECHNIQUES WERE DEVELOPED IN HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES, THEIR COSTS REMAIN PROHIBITIVE. THUS, THERE IS A PRESSING NEED FOR SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BOTH TECHNICALLY SOUND AND FINANCIALLY REALISTIC.SEISMIC ISOLATION IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES, YET IT IS TYPICALLY AFFORDABLE ONLY FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR PROJECT INTRODUCES A LOW-COST SEISMIC ISOLATION METHOD BASED ON RUBBER BALLS ROLLING ON CONICAL CONCRETE SURFACES. A VARIATION USES CEMENT-FILLED, UPCYCLED TENNIS BALLS, FURTHER REDUCING COST WHILE PROMOTING CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRACTICES. THROUGH SHAKE TABLE TESTS, DURABILITY STUDIES, AND PROTOTYPE CONSTRUCTION IN CUBA, THE METHOD’S EFFICIENCY WILL BE VALIDATED. ULTIMATELY, THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE GUIDELINES AND TOOLS TO ENABLE ENGINEERS IN DEVELOPING NATIONS TO DESIGN SAFE MASONRY HOUSING, CONTRIBUTING TO AFFORDABLE, EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT STRUCTURES ALIGNED WITH THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS OF AGENDA 2030. |
