Pushover-Based Risk Assessment Method: a Practical Tool for Risk Assessment of Building Structures

Abstract eng:
The pushover-based risk assessment (PRA) method is employed, together with recently proposed dispersion values, for a practice-oriented estimation of the “failure” probabilities of reinforced concrete (RC) building structures. The test structures include a code-conforming (modern) frame, an old (non code-conforming) frame, and two code-conforming cantilever walls. The results of the PRA method are compared with the results of response history analyses performed with consideration of different levels of approximation (assessment levels), i.e. equivalent SDOF vs. MDOF response history analysis, and different ground motions sets, i.e. code-based ground motion sets vs. hazard consistent ground motion sets. In the majority of cases, the “failure” probabilities estimated with the PRA method are in between the results of more elaborate risk analyses, performed using different ground motion sets. The obtained results indicate that the old frame, which was designed and built without observing appropriate codes for seismic resistance, is exposed to at least an order of magnitude higher seismic risk than code-conforming structures. In spite of its simplicity, the PRA method was able to predict the seismic risk of the examined buildings with reasonable accuracy, thus it may become a practical tool for engineers to estimate the seismic risk of building structures.

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