Distinguished Webinar Series

Organized by Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering and Seismology /
L’Association Canadienne du Génie Parasismique et de la Sismologie

Risk-informed, performance-based design of seismic isolation systems for nuclear energy facilities

Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026, Time: 3:30 p.m. PT

Abstract

Risk-informed pathways are being developed for the design and licensing of next generation nuclear facilities. This presentation will address one such pathway to implement seismic base isolation, which involves the development of a) isolation-system-specific seismic displacement demand curves from seismic hazard curves, and b) fragility functions for seismic isolation systems. Risk calculations result in a displacement, D50, that forms the basis for the prototype testing of isolators and dampers. Specific topics addressed in the presentation include the derivation of the displacement demand curves and isolation-system fragility functions, and calculations of risk.

Presenter

Andrew Whittaker, Ph.D., P.E., S.E. SUNY Distinguished Professor University at Buffalo [email protected]

Andrew Whittaker is a SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at the University at Buffalo, and holds a Faculty Joint Appointment at the Idaho National Laboratory. Whittaker is a registered civil and structural engineer in the State of California. His undergraduate degree in civil engineering is from the University of Melbourne (1977) and his MS (1985) and PhD (1988) degrees are from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering.

Andrew Whittaker has contributed to the writing of ASCE standards, and ATC/FEMA guidelines for more than 30 years. He made significant contributions to the first generation of tools for performance-based earthquake engineering (FEMA 273, FEMA 274, FEMA 356, ASCE 41) and led the structural engineering team that developed the second generation of these tools (FEMA P-58). Whittaker served as Chair of the ASCE Nuclear Standards Committee from 2015 to 2026, and now co-chairs the ASCE 92 committee. He leads Issue Team 11 in the current NEHRP cycle addressing risk targets for seismic isolation systems for buildings, with outcomes to inform ASCE/SEI 7-28.

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