Comparing the Observed and Numerically Simulated Seismic Damage: A Unified Procedure for Unreinforced Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Buildings

ABSTRACT

A unified procedure for assessing the effectiveness of modelling strategies for existing buildings is proposed. The procedure is applied to unreinforced masonry and cast-in-place and precast reinforced concrete real buildings struck by earthquakes. A cross-structural-typology Matching Index (MI) is proposed. It aims to synthetically compare numerical outcomes with the evidence of the damage experienced by the case-study buildings. Results confirmed a good reliability and effectiveness of the developed numerical models (mean MI value higher than 0.70 for all the investigated cases) and the capability of the models in reproducing the performance states occurred in the real cases.

KEYWORDS:

• Model validation
• benchmark
• nonlinear analysis
• observed damage
• seismic response
• performance level

Acknowledgments

The study presented in this article was developed within the activities of the ReLUIS-DPC 2019–2021 research programs, funded by the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri—Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (DPC). Note that the opinions and conclusions presented by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the funding entity. The contribution of Prof. G. Castellazzi in gathering the information about the precast building case study is greatly acknowledged.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri.