Probabilistic Assessment of Structural Damage due to Earthquakes for Buildings in Mid-America
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 135, Issue 10
Abstract
This paper provides an approach to conduct a probabilistic assessment of structural damage due to seismic events with an application to typical building structures in mid-America. The developed methodology includes modified damage state classifications based on the Applied Technology Council (ATC)-13 and ATC-38 damage states and the ATC-38 database of building damage. Damage factors are assigned to each damage state to quantify structural damage as a percentage of structural replacement cost. To account for the inherent uncertainties, these factors are expressed as random variables with a Beta distribution. A set of fragility curves, quantifying the structural vulnerability of a building, is mapped onto the developed methodology to determine the expected structural damage. The total structural damage factor for a given seismic intensity is then calculated using a probabilistic approach. Prediction and confidence bands are also constructed to account for the prevailing uncertainties. The expected seismic structural damage is assessed for three types of building structures in the mid-American region using the developed methodology. In addition, a sensitivity analysis for the probabilistic parameters is conducted. The developed methodology provides a transparent procedure where the structural damage factors can be updated as additional seismic damage data becomes available.
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the National Science Foundation and the University of Illinois who funded this research through the Mid-America Earthquake Center (NSF Grant No. NSFEEC-9701785). The financial support provided by the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University, where this research was conducted, is also appreciated. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the sponsors.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 135 • Issue 10 • October 2009
Pages: 1155 - 1163
Copyright
© 2009 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 28, 2007
Accepted: May 11, 2009
Published online: Sep 15, 2009
Published in print: Oct 2009
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Akshay Gupta
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