EPD V7 CERTIFICATION EXAM:
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS AND
DESIGN
1. Which of the following best describes the ‘Response Modification Coefficient’ (R) used in
seismic design?
A. A factor representing the inherent damping of the building material.
B. A factor that reduces design forces to account for ductility and overstrength.
C. A multiplier used to increase the seismic load for essential facilities.
D. The ratio of the building’s fundamental period to the site’s period.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The R-factor is used to reduce the elastic seismic demand to a
design level, accounting for the structure’s ability to dissipate energy through inelastic
behavior and its inherent overstrength.
2. In the context of soil-structure interaction, what is ‘Liquefaction’?
A. The process by which rock turns into molten magma during high-pressure seismic
events.
,B. The increase in soil bearing capacity caused by seismic vibrations.
C. The rapid drying of clay soils during an earthquake.
D. A phenomenon where saturated soil loses strength and behaves like a liquid due to
cyclic loading.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Liquefaction occurs in saturated, cohesionless soils when pore
water pressure increases significantly during shaking, causing the soil to lose its shear
strength.
3. Which seismic lateral force resisting system typically offers the highest ductility?
A. Ordinary Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls
B. Special Moment Resisting Frames (SMRF)
C. Ordinary Braced Frames
D. Unreinforced Masonry Walls
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: SMRFs are specifically detailed to undergo significant inelastic
deformation (ductility) without collapse, unlike ordinary systems or brittle masonry.
4. The ‘Fundamental Period’ (T) of a building is most significantly influenced by which two
properties?
A. Occupancy category and wind speed
, B. Soil type and geographic location
C. Mass and Stiffness
D. Color and texture of the cladding
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The fundamental period is proportional to the square root of
mass divided by stiffness (T = 2π√(m/k)).
5. What is the primary purpose of ‘Base Isolation’ in seismic design?
A. To increase the building’s stiffness to resist all movement.
B. To ensure the building moves exactly in sync with the ground.
C. To decouple the structure from the ground motion to reduce transmitted energy.
D. To increase the structural weight to prevent overturning.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Base isolation systems introduce flexibility at the base to
lengthen the period and provide damping, significantly reducing the acceleration
transmitted to the superstructure.
6. According to ASCE 7 (a standard often used in EPD), what does Site Class F signify?
A. Hard Rock
B. Soils requiring site-specific evaluation (e.g., liquefiable or high plasticity clays)
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS AND
DESIGN
1. Which of the following best describes the ‘Response Modification Coefficient’ (R) used in
seismic design?
A. A factor representing the inherent damping of the building material.
B. A factor that reduces design forces to account for ductility and overstrength.
C. A multiplier used to increase the seismic load for essential facilities.
D. The ratio of the building’s fundamental period to the site’s period.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The R-factor is used to reduce the elastic seismic demand to a
design level, accounting for the structure’s ability to dissipate energy through inelastic
behavior and its inherent overstrength.
2. In the context of soil-structure interaction, what is ‘Liquefaction’?
A. The process by which rock turns into molten magma during high-pressure seismic
events.
,B. The increase in soil bearing capacity caused by seismic vibrations.
C. The rapid drying of clay soils during an earthquake.
D. A phenomenon where saturated soil loses strength and behaves like a liquid due to
cyclic loading.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Liquefaction occurs in saturated, cohesionless soils when pore
water pressure increases significantly during shaking, causing the soil to lose its shear
strength.
3. Which seismic lateral force resisting system typically offers the highest ductility?
A. Ordinary Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls
B. Special Moment Resisting Frames (SMRF)
C. Ordinary Braced Frames
D. Unreinforced Masonry Walls
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: SMRFs are specifically detailed to undergo significant inelastic
deformation (ductility) without collapse, unlike ordinary systems or brittle masonry.
4. The ‘Fundamental Period’ (T) of a building is most significantly influenced by which two
properties?
A. Occupancy category and wind speed
, B. Soil type and geographic location
C. Mass and Stiffness
D. Color and texture of the cladding
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The fundamental period is proportional to the square root of
mass divided by stiffness (T = 2π√(m/k)).
5. What is the primary purpose of ‘Base Isolation’ in seismic design?
A. To increase the building’s stiffness to resist all movement.
B. To ensure the building moves exactly in sync with the ground.
C. To decouple the structure from the ground motion to reduce transmitted energy.
D. To increase the structural weight to prevent overturning.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Base isolation systems introduce flexibility at the base to
lengthen the period and provide damping, significantly reducing the acceleration
transmitted to the superstructure.
6. According to ASCE 7 (a standard often used in EPD), what does Site Class F signify?
A. Hard Rock
B. Soils requiring site-specific evaluation (e.g., liquefiable or high plasticity clays)
