DEVELOPMENT OF SEISMIC FRAGILITY CURVES FOR TALL BUILDINGS

Abstract eng:
This study focuses on the reliability assessment of tall buildings subjected to earthquake loadings. The vulnerabilities of these tall structures are expressed with the development of fragility curves, which provide the probability of exceeding a prescribed level of damage for a wide range of ground motion intensities. Such fragility curves are extremely important for estimating the overall risk to the civil infrastructure from potential earthquakes. The methodology to develop these curves follows a Monte Carlo simulation approach incorporating uncertainties in the ground motion and in the structural characteristics. Uncertainty of ground motion is introduced by modeling it as a stochastic process. This is accomplished by simulating power spectrum compatible stochastic processes with a prescribed duration and marginal probability distribution function. This study evaluates the effect of the assumption of Gaussianty and the role of duration of strong ground motion. Deviations from Gaussianity can have significant detrimental effects on the structural response, particularly on maximum values. Duration can also have a significant effect on the response, as a nonlinear model involving stiffness degradation is used. Both effects are studied. Uncertainty of structural characteristics is introduced by modeling different material properties as random variables at critical locations of the structure. The developed fragility curves can be very useful for emergency management agencies and insurance companies wishing to estimate the overall loss after a scenario earthquake.

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