Performance-based Seismic Design Criteria For Historic Buildings

Abstract

Seismic design procedures have historically been developed by engineers from observations of the behavior of real buildings and structures when subjected to destructive earthquakes. Prescriptive requirements, based on features observed to result in good performance, were developed after each damaging earthquake. This knowledge was supplemented by a systematic process of improving our basic understanding of earthquakes and our ability to characterize and predict the effects of earthquakes and the response of structures. The ordinary objective of seismic stabilization of historic buildings in earthquake regions has always been the protection of life safety and prevention of collapse of the structure. Recent years have seen the introduction of many new concepts and technological advances in the field of seismic design, including state of the art methods of ground motion characterization and zonation, and direct consideration of non-linear structural responses. These advances have now allowed us to establish a performance-based engineering design criteria with the objective of meeting a specific damage level for a specific part of a specific structure. Starting with the objective of meeting a specific damage level to an exterior building facade, and using the case study of a recent seismic stabilization of a historic structure in Southern California, the paper discusses procedures for developing a performance-based seismic design criteria for a historic building.