Seismic Safety Evaluation Method for Building Contents

Abstract eng:
A simple and convenient methodology to evaluate indoor safety for buildings subjected to earthquake shakings has been developed. The methodology consists of three main estimation components: (1) an approximate evaluation of the maximum responses of a building due to earthquake shaking, (2) estimation of risks of overturning and sliding of furniture, and (3) estimation of damage of nonstructural elements of a building. The developed response evaluation formulas can estimate the maximum acceleration, velocity, and story displacement of each story of a building by using only the story number and the classification of structure (RC/Steel) of the building and the PGA and PGV of the earthquake. Based upon the estimated maximum responses, the risks of overturning and sliding of specified pieces of furniture and the damage of specified nonstructural elements can be estimated and classified into four levels. The methodology has been verified by comparing with the actual observed earthquake damage in the 2005 West Off Fukuoka Earthquake and the 2004 Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake.

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