Framework for modelling post-earthquake functional recovery of buildings

Abstract

Earthquakes are one of the most destructive natural disasters with devastating consequences on people and their supporting infrastructure. To alleviate the earthquake consequences, the recovery process of building systems, essential for providing continued operation, should be considered during the design of the building. This study presents a novel, probabilistic, building-level framework for modeling and evaluating the entire recovery process, expressed by duration and path of functional recovery. The proposed framework consists of three novel and integrated models for evaluation building's 1) post-earthquake functionality, 2) mobilization time, and 3) repair time. It is in line with the probabilistic PBEE methodology, and it utilizes FEMA P-58 damage assessment results to evaluate the recovery process. With a modular structure, it allows easy extension and addition of new framework components. The unique feature of the framework is its capability to generate a functional recovery curve and isolate 1) the contributors to the interrupted building operation and 2) building components that dominate the recovery process. As demonstrated in the case study of an existing 13-story building, the outcomes of the recovery evaluation can be effectively used as a guide for the development of earthquake mitigation strategies and design/retrofit solutions to improve seismic performance.