Evaluation Of Seismic Vulnerability Research Articles

Comparative analysis of seismic response and vulnerability of laminated bamboo frame structure under near-field and far-field earthquake actions

The study offers an evaluation of seismic response and vulnerability for a five-story laminated bamboo frame structure, assessing the effectiveness of seismic intensity measures across various damage thresholds and the modeling uncertainties involved. A structural finite element model was developed in OpenSees software, utilizing the Pinching4 model to accurately represent the non-linear characteristics of T-shaped steel connections in beam-column joints. Two collections of earthquake records, one consisting of pulse-like near-field and the other of far-field events, were utilized to examine the structure's nonlinear behavior. Additionally, vulnerability curves for various damage states were generated using the multiple stripe analysis technique, applied to both ground motion datasets. The applicability of 24 seismic intensity measures was also analyzed across various damage limit states. The modeling uncertainty under different seismic actions was further estimated using a first-order second-moment method. Ultimately, the annual collapse probability of the structure are elucidated. Research indicates that due to the influence of joint stiffness, the overall structure demonstrates dynamic characteristics that are predominantly of the first mode shape. The spectral acceleration associated with the fundamental period achieves a reduced logarithmic standard deviation in the vulnerability analysis across various limit states. Other IMs considering higher mode effects or softening period actions no longer predominate. In most cases, the modeling uncertainty under far-field seismic action is higher than that under near-field, especially at the severe damage limit states by using an efficient intensity measure. The laminated bamboo frame structure faces a much higher collapse risk in near-field than in far-field conditions.

Evaluation of Physical Infrastructure and Seismic Vulnerability in the Community of Joa, Jipijapa Canton

This research focuses on the evaluation of physical infrastructure and seismic vulnerability in the Joa commune of Canton Jipijapa (Ecuador). The lack of investment in adequate infrastructure can limit the community's growth and increase its vulnerability to natural disasters. The main objective is to diagnose the infrastructure and evaluate the seismic vulnerability of homes, identifying areas for improvement. The methodology combines surveys of residents and rapid visual assessments of buildings, utilizing the FEMA 154 methodology. The surveys collected information on housing characteristics and residents' perceptions of structural safety, while the rapid visual assessment classified homes according to their seismic vulnerability. The results showed that most homes are built with reinforced concrete or a combination of concrete and wood. Although most residents perceive little need for rehabilitation, the seismic assessment revealed that a significant percentage of homes have high vulnerability. The zoning map identified the areas of greatest risk. The main conclusion is that there is a worrying number of homes with high vulnerability that require urgent attention. It is recommended to implement reinforcement and rehabilitation programs, as well as education and awareness campaigns about seismic risk. Vulnerability zoning provides essential information for risk management and urban planning, with the aim of reducing the community's vulnerability to future earthquakes

Proposal for an expeditious seismic vulnerability evaluation of the Italian medieval defensive walls

Proposal for an expeditious seismic vulnerability evaluation of the Italian medieval defensive walls

Earthquake scenario-specific framework for spatial accessibility analysis (SAA) of emergency shelters: a case study in Xichang City, Sichuan Province, China

The spatial accessibility of emergency shelters, indicating the difficulty of evacuation and rescue, is crucial for disaster mitigation and emergency management. To analyze accessibility, an effective approach is to evaluate the service capacity of emergency shelters. Multifaceted factors were employed to enhance the quantitative accuracy of accessibility indicators. However, scenario-specific analysis has not been emphasized. Considering the devastating potential of great earthquake disasters, we cannot ignore the impact of these scenarios on emergency shelter accessibility, especially in areas with high seismic risk. In this study, we developed an earthquake scenario-specific framework for spatial accessibility analysis (SAA), which integrates the service capacity of emergency shelters and the impact of strong ground motion and fault rupturing. We applied this framework to the urban area of Xichang City in Sichuan Province, western China. Xichang City, located in the linked area of the Anninghe fault and Zemuhe fault with many extreme historical earthquake disaster records, is prone to high seismic risk. We firstly collected emergency shelter and road network data in Xichang City. We then applied SAA based on the road network, using the network analysis method. After that, we analyzed the impact of strong ground motion on accessibility and generated the setback zone of fault rupturing. We integrated the effect of strong ground motion on accessibility within the setback zone of active faults. Finally, we generated a comprehensive accessibility map, considering both the predicted strong ground motion and potential fault rupturing. Our results show that the accessibility level changed in several towns of urban Xichang City due to strong ground motion and fault rupturing. The accessibility level decreased in Lizhou, Xingsheng, and Anning Towns. For areas with mapped fault lines, the accessibility level is Very-Low. Our results demonstrate the impact of earthquake damage on the accessibility of emergency shelters and the complexity of evacuation in earthquake scenarios. In general, we added earthquake rupturing and ground motion characteristics into the SAA framework. This framework will help us enhance the reliability of SAA and the feasibility of seismic vulnerability evaluation.

Seismic vulnerability assessment of buried water supply and sanitation pipelines using the analytic hierarchy process: a methodology and application

The evaluation of seismic vulnerability in buried pipelines within water supply and sanitation networks stands as a critical endeavor in safeguarding infrastructure against the impacts of earthquakes. In response, this study introduces a systematic methodology rooted in the Vulnerability Index (VI), leveraging the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to allocate weights to factors influencing pipeline seismic behavior. Through the derivation of an expression for calculating the VI based on these weighted factors, our objective is to furnish a comprehensive pipeline classification system, thereby providing a strategic overview of the networks' seismic resilience. This method's practical utility will be exemplified through the examination of concrete cases involving drinking water pipelines (DWP). Furthermore, the scope will extend to encompass sanitation pipelines, thereby validating the methodology's effectiveness across both domains. By systematically assessing the seismic vulnerability of these crucial infrastructures, we aim to fortify their resilience against seismic events, ensuring the continued provision of essential services even in the face of natural disasters. This study's significance lies not only in its contribution to the field of infrastructure resilience but also in its practical implications for urban planning and disaster management. By elucidating the factors influencing pipeline vulnerability and providing a robust framework for assessment, decision-makers can better prioritize resource allocation and mitigation efforts, ultimately enhancing community safety and well-being. Furthermore, the methodology's adaptability and scalability render it applicable to diverse contexts, facilitating its integration into broader risk management strategies. As such, this study serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, engineers, and stakeholders seeking to enhance the resilience of water supply and sanitation networks in earthquake-prone regions. Through informed decision-making and proactive measures, we can build more resilient communities capable of withstanding the challenges posed by seismic hazards.

EMPIRICAL VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS OF RAILWAY BRIDGE SEISMIC DAMAGE BASED ON 2022 MENYUAN EARTHQUAKE

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 10 km struck Menyuan County, Haibei Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China, on January 8, 2022. This earthquake damaged some railway bridges on the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Passenger Dedicated Line. This study combines relevant historical earthquake damage experience, considers the effects of earthquake intensity, site soil classification, superstructure type, foundation failure factor, number of spans, and total bridge length, and develops empirical formulas for seismic damage prediction of railway bridges using ordinal logistic regression model in SPSS software. The seismic damage matrix, as were the anticipated multi-intensity mean damage index and the empirical vulnerability curve based on the two-parameter lognormal distribution function, were generated on this basis. According to the conclusions, although the suggested particular equations and vulnerability curves do not apply to the remainder of the region owing to geographical uniqueness, the technical approach is valid. It may be used as a reference for seismic damage prediction and vulnerability evaluation in other regions. The empirical vulnerability analysis based on the earthquake damage prediction matrix derived from the regression analysis can provide reasonable and fast forecasts before the next earthquake.

Seismic Risk Assessment of Existing Buildings Based on Architectural View in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

In recent decades, Dhaka City, Bangladesh, has borne witness to an unprecedented surge in urbanization, manifesting in a proliferation of diverse architectural formations and infrastructural developments. This dynamic transformation has bestowed upon the cityscape a distinctive character, reflective of its evolving socio-economic fabric. However, this burgeoning urban milieu confronts a formidable challenge: its geographical location places it within a seismically active zone, thereby rendering it inherently vulnerable to potential seismic events. This research endeavor represents a concerted effort towards undertaking a rigorous and comprehensive examination of the seismic risk landscape pervading the extant built environment of Dhaka City. The focal point of this inquiry lies in an incisive exploration of the architectural facets that underpin the structural integrity of these edifices. Through the diligent elucidation of a meticulously designed methodology, which encompasses the judicious acquisition of pertinent data, a systematic evaluation of seismic vulnerability, and a rigorous quantification of associated risks, this study aspires to illuminate critical insights that hold profound relevance for an array of stakeholders. Notably, the ramifications of this research transcend the academic realm, resonating profoundly within the pragmatic spheres of urban planning, public policy formulation, and infrastructure development. Urban planners, policymakers, and stakeholders vested in the enduring welfare of Dhaka City stand to derive substantial benefits from the findings of this study. It is anticipated that the insights gleaned herein will serve as a bedrock upon which robust strategies and interventions may be formulated, all directed towards fortifying the seismic resilience of Dhaka City, thereby engendering a more secure and sustainable urban habitat for its denizens.

Shaking table test and numerical analyses of a full scale three-leaf masonry wall

This paper discusses the main results of a full-scale shaking table test campaign carried out under the auspices of the EU funded research project SERA, whose objective is to investigate the seismic performance of three-leaf masonry walls with weak lime-mortar joints. These masonry walls are widely found in seismic prone regions in the Mediterranean area, thus assessing their behaviour under dynamic actions is an important pre-requisite for the seismic vulnerability evaluation of a plethora of historical centres. The first part of the paper presents a preliminary study on the mechanical properties of the wall component materials that was carried out through an ad-hoc experimental campaign. The outcomes are of particular interest for the characterization of the mortar and of the infill materials, that were designed to reproduce the low strength that is typically found in old masonry buildings. The design of the masonry wall that was tested and the test set-up are presented next. The applied loading protocol consisted of the horizontal component of a ground motion record that is repeatedly applied to the shaking table with increasing intensity. Finally, the main results of the experimental test are discussed. The damage patterns, drift ratios and base shear are presented for the ground motion sequence. The results are also discussed through a dynamic capacity curve that shows the attainment of different limit states with increasing ground motion intensity. A set of nonlinear numerical simulations, both static and dynamic, using a 3D FE model of the wall verify the experimental study as they report good agreement with the experimental tests and exhibit stable numerical behaviour.

A Machine-Learning-Based Seismic Vulnerability Assessment Approach for Low-Rise RC Buildings

ABSTRACT Seismic vulnerability evaluation of existing buildings is essential to minimize the destructive impacts of earthquakes. Rapid visual screening (RVS) methods are simple and effective vulnerability assessment techniques to help quickly identify high-risk buildings for more detailed evaluations. Among various RVS methods, the Hassan–Sozen priority index (PI) is one of the simplest methods that can be used for low-rise reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The PI relates simple, easily attainable geometric features of a building including number of stories, floor area, column area, and wall area to damageability. However, the relationship is overly simplified, and there is no absolute basis for defining damage classification boundaries that can be used to interpret the PI. Furthermore, given the lack of seismic parameters as inputs, the PI only allows for a relative evaluation of buildings in a specific region. To address these issues and develop a more broadly applicable RVS method, this study first proposes an improved PI evaluation method using machine learning techniques to define damage classification boundaries. Then, a new generalized RVS method is proposed that considers the PI input features and earthquake intensity measures to predict damage states. Data from six post-earthquake damage surveys (Duzce (1999), Bingol (2003), Nepal (2015), Taiwan (2016), Ecuador (2016), and Pohang (2017)) are used to train and evaluate the classification models. Two earthquake intensity features, modified Mercalli intensity and peak ground acceleration, are introduced to develop a new earthquake intensity aware RVS. The results of the proposed methodologies show a considerable improvement from the original PI with no judgment needed to define the damage classification boundaries.

Using remote sensing for exposure and seismic vulnerability evaluation: is it reliable?

ABSTRACT Conducting field surveys for exposure and seismic vulnerability evaluation is the most costly, resource-intensive task when assessing earthquake risk. During the past decade, risk analysts have been trying to alleviate this using remote sensing for building characterization. However, the use of vulnerability databases created with remote sensing had not been sufficiently validated thus far. In this paper, we have created an exposure and seismic vulnerability database in Port Prince (Haiti) using freely accessible aerial ortho-imagery and LiDAR points. We have validated this database against two reference datasets from different, independent studies. Then, we have computed an earthquake damage scenario to test whether remotely sensed data are actually valid for seismic risk evaluation. We have seen how our vulnerability database yields an accurate damage distribution with a low Mean Absolute Percentage Error of 3.78% when compared to the damage obtained with the reference vulnerability dataset. Further, we have conducted a thorough comparison of the cost that entails creating a vulnerability database using remote sensing with a traditional field survey. Twelve international experts have collaborated in the cost estimation of a typical in-field building inspection. As a result, we have found that using remote sensing techniques allows for saving up to 75% of the cost and 85% of the time. These outcomes seem to prove both, the technical and economic feasibility of remote sensing for seismic vulnerability assessment. Thus, we have proposed a 5-step approach for evaluating building vulnerability that combines both, the analysis of remotely sensed data and a reduced, targeted field survey to optimize time and cost. The final goal is to help cities reach the Sustainable Development Goal nr. 11.B to increase their resilience against disasters.

Specialized 3D Distinct element limit analysis approach for a fast seismic vulnerability evaluation of massive masonry structures: Application on traditional pagodas

A 3D limit analysis model specialized in the analysis at the collapse of massive masonry structures subjected to seismic loads is proposed. The approach belongs to the wide family of distinct element methods, because is based on a discretization of the structure by means of infinitely resistant hexahedron elements and quadrilateral interfaces where all dissipation occurs. Any failure surface -after proper linearization- can be adopted for interfaces, as for instance a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion with tension and compression cutoffs. Having discretized the continuum in such a way that internal dissipation is allowed only between adjoining elements, the corresponding linear programming problem necessary to estimate the collapse load, can be obtained through both a kinematic and static approach. The first is more straightforward and the primal problem provides a failure mechanism, interfaces plastic multipliers and collapse multipliers. By virtue of the duality theorem, the second lower bound approach is associated with the same failure load, also providing the internal forces acting on interfaces. The model is validated on three examples of historical value, namely-three pagodas in China, all characterized by complex 3D geometries and massive walls. The results show how the procedure proposed is able to provide fast estimations of the load carrying capacity under the application of horizontal seismic actions and how the corresponding failure mechanism is rather complex, thus precluding the utilization of simplified approaches on idealized geometries.

Methodologies for the evaluation of seismic vulnerability in masonry structures

For the evaluation seismic risk, there are evermore complex and elaborate procedures, the functions of fragility and vulnerability a fundamental tool. In the last 30 years, various methods have been developed for the analysis of seismic vulnerability in masonry structures. In this article, some of the most common empirical and analytical methodologies have been revised and are explained in a concise manner, which will help other investigators in the field to decide which method is the most suitable, depending on the available information in the study that is being carried out.

The Evolution of Seismic Design Provisions in Indonesia’s National Bridge Code

To accommodate increased seismic hazards in Indonesia, provisions regarding structural details on seismic regulations have been tightened. In this paper, the variations in seismic hazard and detailing requirements from bridge code era before 1990 to the present was provided. To examine the bridge performance, pushover analysis was carried out based on the latest bridge code SNI 2833:2016/Seismic Map 2017. From the analysis results, the performance of older bridges would typically be less than more recently designed structures. The performance level of the bridge in the era before SNI 2833:2016/Seismic Map 2017 will be Operational-Life Safety (LS) whereas the performance level of the bridge designed with SNI 2833:2016 will be Elastic – Operational. Referring to NCHRP 949 for bridge performance level evaluation, results show that the performance level of the bridge still satisfies the requirement, which is Life Safety under upper-level earthquake. Therefore, the existing bridge shows adequate capacity under the current seismic load Seismic Map 2017 (7% probability of exceedance in 75 years (RP= 1000 years)). Evaluation of seismic vulnerability needs to be done to ensure the safety of the existing bridges in Indonesia, most of which are located in earthquake-prone areas, especially those that were designed with older version regulations.

A proposal for evaluation of seismic vulnerability of complex masonry building with additions: the case of Zoological Station Anton Dohrn

Nowadays, interest in the preservation of cultural built heritage is globally increasing. The assessment of seismic vulnerability of existing masonry buildings is a complex task as their morphological evolution is often characterised by transformations, aggregations, addition of structural portion to existing ones and modifications developed over centuries.In this paper the seismic vulnerability of the Zoological Station Anton Dohrn in Naples has been evaluated. It is a complex masonry building that includes six parts (the central part, West wing, East wing, two connecting parts and the library) built in different periods. Preliminary analysis, as the evaluation of geometric parameters (for example the ratio between the area of masonry walls and the geometric area), and nonlinear static analysis, by using the equivalent frame model, of central part and connecting parts, part A and B, respectively, have been carried out. Due to the complexity of the building, two hypotheses have been considered. The first hypothesis involves the analysis of the central part and the connecting parts as isolated structures, neglecting the interaction between the parts; the second hypothesis considers a perfect interaction between the parts that are analysed as a single structure.By discussing the results obtained, a proposal for the evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of complex masonry buildings with additions of structural portions is formulated.

Seismic Response and Vulnerability Evaluation of Jammu Region (Jammu and Kashmir)

In this study, an attempt is made to generate hazard maps for the Jammu Region (JR) in Jammu and Kashmir in terms of surface peak ground acceleration ( $${\mathrm{PGA}}_{\mathrm{surface}}$$ ), liquefaction zonation, and vulnerability index ( $$K\mathrm{g}$$ ). To do this, the seismic response of 200 sites was examined, and amplification factors at 0.01 s, 0.2 s, 1 s, and 10 s were estimated based on site-specific $${\mathrm{PGA}}_{\mathrm{surface}}.$$ The calculated factor of safety from field approaches was normalised to produce an integrated liquefaction zonation map. Field data from geophysical testing was also used to generate a vulnerability distribution for the study area. According to the findings, the southern portion of the JR has young sediments and alluvium deposits, resulting in low shear wave velocity ( $${V}_{\mathrm{s}}$$ ) and very strong amplification. As a result, these sites are kept in high to very high vulnerable zones with $$\mathrm{Kg}$$ values of more than 35. This study provides a database for designers working on the construction, development, and expansion-related projects in J&K for developing any prospective earthquake-induced liquefaction mitigation strategies.

Seismic Vulnerability Evaluation of a Historical Masonry Tower: Comparison between Different Approaches

Throughout the last few decades, the scientific community has paid great attention to the structural safety of historical masonry constructions, which have high vulnerability with respect to seismic activities. Masonry towers are very widespread in Italy and represent an important part of the built heritage to be preserved. Different numerical methods with different levels of refinement were developed in the literature to evaluate their seismic performance. The present study shows a practical application of the seismic vulnerability evaluation of a masonry tower using different approaches. The aim is to provide practical suggestions to engineers for the successful evaluation of the performance of masonry towers under seismic loads. An in situ survey was performed to characterize the geometry of the structure and its constitutive material. All the collected information was introduced in a building information model, later used to generate different finite element models for the structural analyses. The global capacity of the structure was evaluated using three different models with different levels of complexity: the first simplified model is made of beam elements with cross-sections discretized in fibers; the second model is made of shell elements and uses a concrete damage plasticity model to describe the nonlinear masonry behavior; the third model adopts solid elements with a concrete smeared crack constitutive law. A preliminary eigen-frequency analysis is performed on the shell model to obtain some basic information about the structural behavior. Nonlinear static analyses were carried out for each model to understand the response of the tower under seismic loads, highlighting the main differences between the approaches. The behavior factor was evaluated on the basis of the analyses results and compared with the ones suggested by the Italian building code. The results showed that the towers do not satisfy the seismic demand required by the standards for all the considered models. Furthermore, the behavior factor calculated according to the Italian design code is overestimated, while the one evaluated by the simplified model is underestimated due to the neglection of the shear behavior. From all the analyzed configurations, the shell model resulted as a good compromise between reliable results and computation efficiency.

Case Study of the Application of an Innovative Guide for the Seismic Vulnerability Evaluation of Schools Located in Sangolquí, Interandean Valley in Ecuador

The current study is based on the analysis and adaptation of a Federal Emergency Management Agency guide, FEMA P-1000, from the USA to improve school safety against natural hazards by applying the guide to the infrastructure of Ecuadorian schools, focusing primarily on seismic risk. By considering the technical foundations of structuring and managing disasters in buildings for school use, society will be provided with a practical procedure to recognize those aspects that need immediate attention as part of proper risk management. Here, a variety of parameters are involved in the proposed methodology of the given guide from FEMA combined with the national construction standards and regulations. The characteristics of nearby geological faults and structural and nonstructural vulnerability levels, amongst others, were also considered to allow for a detailed evaluation and a subsequent seismic risk categorization. Finally, the global risk is determined for the studied institutions of Sangolquí in the Valley of Los Chillos, within the Interandean Depression in central Ecuador.

Development of a low cost system for modal parameters identification under ambient vibration: A low rise building as a case study

The dynamic behavior analysis of the existing buildings is a subject of great importance for seismic risk and vulnerability evaluation. The difficulty consists in the accurate determination of the parameters characterizing the main modes of a structure. Recently, research studies have been oriented towards the use of ambient vibrations to extract such parameters. Indeed, this method allows extracting modal parameters such as natural frequencies, damping and mode shapes without using any artificial excitation. Based on this approach, acquisition and processing systems can be found on the market. However, these systems remain relatively expensive and are more adapted to high-rise structures. In the case of low-rise building, such systems might not be an optimal solution. In this work, we have developed a low-cost acquisition and processing system which is more appropriate to low-rise buildings. This system can measure the response of this kind of structure under ambient solicitations and extract its modal parameters with high precision. Dynamic parameters are extracted using different operational modal analysis (OMA) based methods and finite element modelling. The experimental results show good agreement with the numerical data. The error percentages for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th modes are 0%, 2%, 1.7%, 4% and 0.1%, respectively. Consequently, it was concluded that ambient vibration is a confident approach for identifying the modal parameters of structures.

Evaluation of damage index and seismic vulnerability of an existing high-rise building

Seismic analysis of a structure assisted with damage index is vital for an efficient and reliable assessment of any impact of the earthquake on structures. The seismic vulnerability of a structure gives us the quantity associated with its weakness which allows us to estimate the amount of damage caused by future earthquakes. Indian region has been struck with earthquakes of various magnitudes since 1978, and many researchers have given an insight into the seismic vulnerability assessment of the structure after the earthquake has occurred by field investigation. Damage indices quantitatively estimate the degree of seismic damage a structure may suffer from an earthquake. Hence, damage indices can be used for earthquake damage assessment, evaluating the structure's performance, and assisting retrofitting decisions that can be taken based on the damage incurred. Various damage indices have been proposed by a lot of authors in the past, considering various theories and assumptions based on the topographical data of research. However, their reliability under IS code provisions is still ambiguous and questionable. This paper has attempted to investigate the damage index and check the variation for various output characteristics by altering the input parameter using ETABS. The work presented in the paper aims to estimate the seismic vulnerability of an existing building in the city of Coimbatore (India) by adopting the Maximum inter-storey drift ratio (MIDR) as the damage index. Further, the building's seismic response has been investigated by varying the inputs such as soil type and seismic zones using the response spectrum method to understand the various impacts of the input parameters of seismic analysis on the damage index adopted. Among all the cases analyzed, the configuration where the structure was investigated in soft soil under zone 5 has displayed the maximum degree of damage and the maximum displacement response.

Damage assessment of circular bridge pier incorporating high-strength steel reinforcement under near-fault ground motions

Bridge piers are typically the most vulnerable to damage during an earthquake, and the entire seismic performances of the bridge is determined to some extent by the hysteretic energy of its piers. It was discovered that partially embedding high-strength reinforcements in bridge piers is a reliable and efficient method to increase the ductility performance. The term “high-strength reinforcement” refers to reinforcement with a yield strength of (500 MPa) or above. The use of certain high-performance materials can help to enhance bridge pier seismic performance. Because of their strong and impulsive impact on structures, near-fault ground vibrations deserve special attention. These features are distinct from far-field ground vibrations, which are the basis of practically all seismic design requirements. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of near-fault ground vibrations on reinforced concrete bridge piers, as well as to develop a framework for evaluating bridge columns near active faults. The impact of Forward-directivity pulses effect on the behavior of a continuous steel box girder bridge pier is investigated in this work using fragility analysis. Damage measures such as pier displacement ductility and rotational ductility of pier are used to generate fragility curves and Probabilistic seismic demand model for bridge pier using high strength reinforcement bars under the ensemble of near-field forward- directivity earthquakes. The damage model presented may be assumed to be a well-versed model which may address the variability in earthquake ground motion while performing the bridges pier seismic vulnerability evaluation. Two sets of near-field forward-directivity records with peak ground velocity to peak ground acceleration ratio (high PGV: PGA > 150 cm/s/g and low PGV: PGA < 150 cm/s/g) are employed to carry out incremental dynamic analysis. The findings show that even at low PGA levels, near-field directivity pulses result in a substantial chance of pier damage exceedance.