At the 16th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Environmental Protection (IIZS 2026), held at the Technical Faculty “Mihajlo Pupin” in Zrenjanin, Serbia, researchers from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek presented the scientific paper “Reliability of Fundamental Period Estimation for Condition Assessment and Seismic Evaluation of RC Structures.” Authored by Josip Radić, Antonija Ereš, Ivan Bandalo, and Marijana Hadzima-Nyarko, the paper details research conducted within the IM4StEM project.
The presentation addressed accurate estimation of the fundamental vibration period of reinforced concrete buildings, a parameter essential for understanding structural behaviour and assessing building condition. The study compared widely used formulas from international seismic design codes, such as Eurocode 8 and American standards, with empirical expressions from scientific literature. To assess reliability, the estimated values were compared with experimentally measured fundamental periods from a database of 40 existing reinforced concrete buildings.
The results showed significant discrepancies between estimated and experimentally measured periods. Some formulas overestimated the fundamental period, while others gave lower values than observed. These findings highlight the limitations of simplified methods that rely mainly on building height, as they do not adequately consider factors like structural stiffness, masonry infill walls, construction characteristics, and the building’s actual condition. The study also showed that experimental measurements of dynamic properties can improve structural condition monitoring, inform maintenance planning, and enable more reliable seismic evaluations.
Participation in IIZS 2026 facilitated the dissemination of IM4StEM project research findings, promoted knowledge exchange among researchers from various engineering disciplines, and strengthened collaboration between academic institutions. The research further demonstrated that an improved understanding of structural dynamic behaviour can support more informed maintenance decisions and enhance the seismic safety of existing buildings.
