Conventional RVS Methods for Seismic Risk Assessment for Estimating the Current Situation of Existing Buildings: A State-of-the-Art Review

Nurullah Bektaş,Orsolya Kegyes-Brassai

doi:10.3390/su14052583

Nurullah Bektaş, Orsolya Kegyes-Brassai

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052583

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Feb 23, 2022
Citations: 19	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Széchenyi István University

Abstract

Developments in the field of earthquake engineering over the past few decades have contributed to the development of new methods for evaluating the risk levels in buildings. These research methods are rapid visual screening (RVS), seismic risk indexes, and vulnerability assessments, which have been developed to assess the levels of damage in a building or its structural components. RVS methods have been proposed for the rapid pre- and/or post-earthquake screening of existing large building stock in earthquake-prone areas on the basis of sidewalk surveys. The site seismicity, the soil type, the building type, and the corresponding building characteristic features are to be separately examined, and the vulnerability level of each building can be identified by employing the RVS methods. This study describes, evaluates, and compares the findings of previous investigations that utilized conventional RVS methods within a framework. It also suggests the methods to be used for specific goals and proposes prospective enhancement strategies. Furthermore, the article discusses the time-consuming RVS methods (such as FEMA 154, which requires from 15 to 30 min, while NRCC requires one hour), and provides an overview of the application areas of the methods (pre-earthquake: FEMA 154, NRCC, NZEE, etc.; postearthquake: GNDT, EMS, etc.). This review of the traditional RVS methods offers a comprehensive guide and reference for field practitioners (e.g., engineers, architects), and recommends enhancement techniques (e.g., machine learning, fuzzy logic) for researchers to be used in future improvements.

Highlights

An earthquake-prone area with a long return period of main seismic activity causes an insufficient consideration to preparations against the seismic actions in low- or medium-seismic-prone areas
Evaluates, and compares the findings from previous studies that employ traditional rapid visual screening (RVS) methods within a framework, and recommends the methods to be used for specific purposes and future enhancement techniques
In regions that are in need of assessments for the built environment against earthquakes, the lack of such RVS methods is a problem; the current RVS methods should be adjusted to be implemented for other locations

Summary

Introduction

An earthquake-prone area with a long return period of main seismic activity causes an insufficient consideration to preparations against the seismic actions in low- or medium-seismic-prone areas. This has led to nonseismic designs that are created without consideration of impending earthquakes [1,2]. Seismic vulnerability assessment methodologies are widely used to identify and manage the risks of building and infrastructure damage, as well as the economic losses, in the event of a seismic hazard or hypothetical earthquake, because some of the settlements are in seismically prone areas.

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