Evaluation of Seismic Vulnerability of Masonry Buildings without Ties Using the RISK-UE Method, Case Study of Kermanshah City

Abstract

Investigating the seismic vulnerability of masonry buildings without either horizontal or vertical ties, are important due to their number of usage more specifically in old parts of cities. Kermanshah, as a cultural center of west of Iran and 9th most populated city of Iran, hosts large number of masonry buildings. Besides, the city is located in the seismically active region of Zagros. Hence, it is crucial for urban planning of the city to study the seismic vulnerability of these buildings. Three major types of masonry buildings, which are brick walls with steel beam, brick walls with wooden beam, and adobe buildings are identified and their seismic vulnerabilities are evaluated using the RISK-UE method. The vulnerability of these buildings in terms of damage level as well as the human vulnerability rate estimated from the severity of the demolition of these buildings for each area of the city, assuming that 80% of the people are in the roofed places during the earthquake scenarios. The results show that under the earthquake scenario with return period of 475 years, more than 12% of brick walls with wooden beam, 11% of brick walls with steel beam, and 29% of adobe buildings, may experience severe structural damage or complete destruction. Furthermore, under the earthquake scenario with return period of 2475 years, the level of severe structural damage or complete destruction is expected for more than 42% of brick walls with wooden beam, 39% of brick walls with steel beam, and 66% of adobe buildings.