Abstract
The paper compares several simplified methods proposed in the literature for assessing the seismic vulnerability of existing buildings. Type and number of input and output data, limitations of use for different structural typologies, and complexity of use are examined for each methodology to identify the most suitable for assessing the vulnerability of a given class of buildings, based on the available data, the computational effort, and the type of vulnerability judgment. The selected methods were applied to a sample of school buildings located in the province of Naples (Italy). Data were available due to a digital platform and were used to verify the possibility of providing reliable large scale vulnerability judgments based on a reduced set of information, without carrying out additional surveys. The most simplified methods were applied to a sample of about a thousand of buildings, while more detailed methods, needing more information, were applied to a smaller sample. The comparison between the results obtained from different methods allows highlighting advantages and weaknesses of each, so as to identify the convenience in their use according to the specific available information and the objectives of the analysis, finally to evaluate which is more or less safe.
Highlights
The Italian structural heritage is mostly made up of non-recent buildings
Forms to assess the seismic vulnerability of masonry buildings are provided by the Italian National
It is worth noting that all the reinforced concrete (RC) buildings fell in class Dv, all the masonry buildings fell in class Bv, with exception of the 2 irregular masonry buildings that fell in class Av
Summary
In addition to a large number of monumental buildings, having an intrinsic cultural and artistic value, a high percentage of buildings and infrastructures have, exceeded the ordinary limits of design lifetime. It is important, especially after the recent seismic events that occurred in Italy [1–4], to carry out a seismic risk analysis on a ‘large’, i.e., territorial, scale. Based on the previous definition, the assessment of the seismic vulnerability of a building can be specialized in several ways, mostly depending on the objectives of the analysis itself. The ‘scale’ (single building, aggregates, urban scale, and territorial scale), which the analysis refers to, is one of the aspects that play a fundamental role in choosing the most appropriate way of estimating the vulnerability
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
