Seismic resilience has become a central objective in modern structural engineering, extending beyond traditional strength-based design toward ensuring the ability of structures to withstand, adapt to, and rapidly recover from earthquake-induced damage. In this lecture, Dr. Amado G. Ayala Milián presents advanced concepts and methodologies for incorporating seismic resilience into structural design, with a particular focus on building systems exposed to strong ground motions. The lecture discusses displacement-based and performance-based seismic design approaches, highlighting their advantages over conventional force-based methods in capturing realistic structural behaviour under seismic loading. Drawing on decades of research and practical experience, the lecture bridges theoretical developments with real-world applications, demonstrating how new design concepts can ensure more resilient communities. The presentation concludes with insights into current challenges and future directions in seismic resilience, emphasizing the need for integrated design strategies that balance safety, functionality, and sustainability in earthquake-prone regions.

Prof. Dr. Amado Gustavo Ayala has served for more than 50 years as a research professor at the Institute of Engineering of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and is a frequent visiting scholar at leading international universities. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNAM, a doctorate from the University of Southampton, and a diploma in wind engineering from the Von Kármán Institute. His research focuses on the development and application of models and numerical methods in structural, geotechnical, seismic, and wind engineering. Prof. Ayala is a full member of the Mexican Academy of Engineering and an honorary member of the Mexican Society of Structural Engineering. His contributions to earthquake engineering have been recognized with numerous distinctions, including the Luis Esteva Medal, a Marie Curie Chair from the European Commission, the Hypatia International Award of the International Centre for the Conservation of Architectural Heritage, and the “Mariano Hernández Barrenechea” Teaching Award of the Institution of Civil Engineers of Mexico. In recent years, his research has focused on the development of novel computational tools and methods for the analysis of historic structures, as well as on performance-based seismic evaluation and design of buildings and lifelines, with particular attention to resilience and functionality recovery.

Date: October 30, 2025
Time: 11:00
Location: Lecture Hall D