The first Algerian seismic code named "Règles Parasismiques Algériennes" (RPA, 1981) was established after the terrible 1980 Chlef earthquake (M 7.3), which caused a great disaster. Since this catastrophic event a continually reviewed versions, in particular after the 2003 Boumerdes earthquake (M 6.8) which caused an immense hazardous loss in human lives and construction damages (2000 seath) persons killed). This harmful event urged on to a serious review leading to the last and present version of such standard earthquake (RPA, 2003) with fundamental modifications concerning many important fields. The points revealed in the present review research study are the classification of sites, design methods, design spectrum, ductility concept, behavior factor, self-steady structures and dual systems (frames and walls). The outcome of the study here in is summarized as a brief review that could be a contribution to enrich the Algerian seismic regulation (RPA) with a focus on these seven important points selected as they seem to present some anomalies or deficiencies detected and treated on the basis of two main parameters. Firstly, we consider the damage observed after the 2003 Boumerdes earthquake; later in the second step, a comparison is made with other codes practiced over the world alike the European EC8 or the American Uniform Building Code, 1994 (UBC 94) or the 2000 NEHRP Provisions.

This experimental study aims to study the mechanical behaviour of a mortar based on cement blended with mineral additions (pozzolana, limestone and slag), knowing that the mechanical strength of a mortar is closely related to its composition. The use of the three mineral additions simultaneously, presents a high number of factors affecting the mechanical resistance and requires a very large number of experiments and the obtained data analysis becomes much more complex. In order to optimise the number of tests and to achieve a such satisfactory analysis, a statistical approach known as an "experimental design" was used. The experimental methodology has been established to assess the compressive strength of mortars at 2, 7, 28 and 60 days, by the elaboration of an experimental design for a set of cement mixtures, the level of the three additions (factors), slag, limestone and pozzolana at rates varying from 0% to 35%, provided that a fixed dosage of 35% is maintained for all combinations to form a binary, ternary and quaternary cement in accordance with cement standard requirements CEM II/B. This statistical approach allowed us to evaluate by a numerical analysis the effect of each addition alone as well the meaning of the double or triple interaction resulting from the association of two or three additions at a time. In addition, it has enabled us to establish a representative model that permitted to estimate and predict the mechanical behaviour of any composition in the experimental program with tolerable errors. The obtained results lead to a satisfactory numerical modeling of the compressive strengths, in particular at the age of 28 days, with a trend curve of a an acceptable determined coefficient of R 2 equal to 0.87.