The new seismic hazard model ESHM20 of Europe: Investigating the implications to the seismic design and risk assessment of major industrial facilities across Europe

Abstract

AbstractThe seismic performance and safety of major European industrial facilities have a global interest for the whole of Europe and its citizens. However, the seismic design of these facilities is based on national, sometimes outdated seismic hazard analyses. The results of the commonly developed, fully harmonized newly released European Seismic Hazard Model ESHM20 provide a pertinent reference for seismic hazard at European scale and have been officially adopted as an “acceptable representation of the seismic hazard in Europe” in the ongoing revision of Eurocode 8. This study presents a large-scale investigation of the impact of the potential adoption of ESHM20 on the design of new industrial facilities as well as on the potential seismic risk of existing facilities at European level with respect to the current seismic codes. The horizontal elastic response spectra using ESHM20 in combination with the revised Eurocode 8 for selected industrial sites are compared with the respective response spectra of the national regulations for return periods of 475, 2500 and 5000 years. In addition, a single containment LNG tank is analysed for an industrial site in Germany using the design approach for liquid filled tanks according to the revised Eurocode 8. Furthermore, a deterministic and probabilistic seismic risk assessment of a vessel installed in a five-storey frame is performed for industrial sites in Greece and Germany. The examples show that a consistent procedure all over Europe would be desirable and a benefit for engineers in terms of comparability and achievement of the same safety targets. Based on the conducted illustrative studies, the consequences of a potential adoption of the revised Eurocode 8 and ESHM20 hazard maps are discussed and summarized with respect to the standard harmonisation process in Europe.