Vulnerability Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Framed Structures Considering the Effect of Structural Characteristics

Abstract

Considering the effects of earthquakes occurred during the last 15 years, this article focusses on finding solutions to minimize the human and economic losses. Several methodologies were developed in order to assess the vulnerability of the built environment with special reference to one of the most suitable structural systems in seismic areas for dwellings, offices or other functionalities, which is the reinforced concrete framed structure. Thus, the present article studies the influence on the vulnerability of reinforced concrete framed structures of geometric structural characteristics like the slab thickness, the building height and the plan configuration. Referring to the slab, it adds supplementary stiffness to the structure that can significantly influence upon its overall failure mechanism. 3D static nonlinear analyses are conducted by means of the SAP2000 computer program. The results are capacity curves which are used to develop the vulnerability curves. Three thicknesses are considered for the slab: 0.1 cm, 0.12 cm and 0.15 m. Medium and high rise structures are considered, with 4, and 8 levels, respectively, in order to determine the influence of the building height on the vulnerability index. Three plan configurations of the buildings are compared: a square one, a rectangular one and an L shaped one. For all the analyzed cases, the corresponding vulnerability curves are compared. The obtained results reveal that more realistic results for the behavior of the structure can be obtained if special attention is given to the structural characteristics, especially during the conceptual design process.

Sustainable Approach of a Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Using GIS Customized for Ungheni Areal Situated in the Metropolitan Area of Iasi

“…The seismic vulnerability of the built environment refers to the intrinsic possibility of buildings suffering degradation in the event of a dangerous event of known characteristics-intensity and period of time [40].…”

Plastic hinges mechano-reliability analysis in the beams of RC frames structures

“…Two approaches are stand out in the reliability study: In the first one, the seismic loading is considered as random (Wen and Kwei, 1976;Colangelo et al, 1996;Atkinson and Boore, 2006;Zentner and Borgonovo, 2014;Bouzelha et al, 2017;Arash, 2018;Dorbani et al, 2018;Aliche et al, 2019). In second one, mechanicals and geometrical characteristics of structures are the uncertainties (Hess et al, 2002;Olteanu et al, 2015;Dehmous and Welemane, 2011;Maizia et al, 2017;Xu et al, 2017;Sahu et al, 2019). The second approach is used by varying randomly two variables f c and f y according to their respective distribution laws.…”

Fragility and Vulnerability Analysis of an RC Building with the Application of Nonlinear Analysis

“…A review of the state of assessment of seismic vulnerability caused by natural disasters is the subject of a paper by Vamvatsikos et al [24] Giovinazzi [25] proposed the method for the vulnerability assessment and the damage scenario in seismic risk analysis. Seismic vulnerability assessment, damage scenarios and loss estimation are investigated in the research of Vicente et al [26] Damage assessment of current buildings on a territorial scale is the subject of the research by Giovinazzi and Lagomarsino [27] and Lagomarsino and Giovinazzi [28], and an overview of research activities and present assessments with guidelines for the future were considered in a paper by Atalić et al [29] Fragility and vulnerability analyses of RC-framed buildings, considering the effects of their structural characteristics, were performed by Olteanu et al [30] Medium-and high-rise structures were considered, with four and eight stories, in order to determine the building height in the vulnerability index. Three plan configurations were compared: square, rectangular and L. It was concluded that the structures with fewer levels were more vulnerable than the structures with more levels.…”