The EarthQuake Mechanics research center (EQMech) was founded at BGU in 2024 to promote collaboration between researchers from the natural sciences and engineering faculties, on all aspects of earthquake physics and their engineering implications.
The members of EQMech cover all the different components of a seismic event – starting with the characteristics of the seismic source and their effect on the earthquake event; the passage of waves through different geological materials along their propagation path; continuing with unique site-effects caused by subsurface materials; and ending with the structural response and mitigation techniques.
The study of earthquake mechanics - from the source, through the path, the site and to the structure, is necessary to better understand the physical mechanisms of earthquakes and to evaluate the seismic risks, as well as the potential damage to communities and infrastructure.
The uniqueness of the EQMech research center lies in the synergy between basic and applied research, allowing us to jointly address scientific, technological, and engineering impacts of earthquake mechanics.
In this talk we will present the EQMech researchers and focus on the research facilities developed for enhancing our understanding of earthquake mechanics and their engineering effects.