The paper analyzes the influence of friction pendulum system (FPS) isolator properties on the seismic\ud performance of base-isolated building frames. The behavior of these systems is analyzed by employing a\ud two-degree-of-freedom model accounting for the superstructure flexibility, whereas the FPS isolator behavior\ud is described by adopting a widespread model that considers the variation of the friction coefficient with\ud the velocity. The uncertainty in the seismic input is taken into account by considering a set of natural records\ud with different characteristics scaled to increasing intensity levels. The variation of the statistics of the\ud response parameters relevant to the seismic performance is investigated through the nondimensionalization\ud of the motion equation and an extensive parametric study carried out for different isolator and system properties.\ud The proposed approach allows to explore a wide range of situations while limiting the required\ud nonlinear response history analyses.\ud Two case studies consisting of base-isolated building frames described as shear-type systems are finally\ud investigated in order to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed simplified model in unveiling the essential\ud characteristics of the performance of buildings isolated with FPS bearings

SUMMARY The paper illustrates a probabilistic methodology for assessing the vulnerability of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with limited ductility capacity retrofitted by means of dissipative braces. The aim is to highlight the most important parameters controlling the capacity of these coupled systems and specific aspects concerning the response uncertainties. The proposed methodology is based on the use of local engineering demand parameters for monitoring the seismic response and on the development of component and system fragility curves before and after the retrofit. In the first part of the paper, the methodology is illustrated by highlighting its advantages with respect to the existing approaches. Then, its capability and effectiveness are tested by considering a benchmark two‐dimensional RC frame designed for gravity‐loads only. The frame is retrofitted by introducing elasto‐plastic dissipative braces designed for different levels of base shear capacity. The obtained results show the effectiveness of the methodology in describing the changes in the response and in the failure modalities before and after the retrofit, for different retrofit levels. Moreover, the retrofit effectiveness is evaluated by introducing proper synthetic parameters describing the fragility curves and by stressing the importance of employing local engineering demand parameters (EDPs) rather than global EDPs in the seismic risk evaluation of coupled systems consisting in low‐ductility RC frames and dissipative braces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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This paper investigates the problem of flood-induced scour on masonry arch bridges through the analysis of a real case study, Rubbianello Bridge. This is a multi-span masonry arch bridge located in Central Italy, which suffered the collapse of two of the seven spans due to foundation scour during a severe flood in December 2013. The study has a twofold aim: to evaluate with a numerical model the level of scour which led to the bridge failure in 2013 and the corresponding collapse mechanism, and to assess the sensitivity of the bridge's modal properties (vibration frequencies and mode shapes) to different levels of scour. An accurate nonlinear three-dimensional model of the bridge is developed, whose elastic properties are calibrated to match the results of dynamic identification tests performed via Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) on the remaining portion of the bridge. A numerical simulation of the effects of the scour hole progression is also performed on the full bridge, according to recently proposed techniques. The study results provide useful insights on both the cause of collapse of the bridge and the suitability of OMA for bridge scour monitoring.

The exposure of critical infrastructure to natural and human-induced hazards has severe consequences on world economies and societies. Therefore, resilience assessment of infrastructure assets to extreme events and sequences of diverse hazards is of paramount importance for maintaining their functionality. Yet, the resilience assessment commonly assumes single hazards and ignores alternative approaches and decisions in the restoration strategy. It has now been established that infrastructure owners and operators consider different factors in their restoration strategies depending on the available resources and their priorities, the importance of the asset and the level of damage. Currently, no integrated framework that accounts for the nature and sequence