Seismic Vulnerability of Vernacular Residential Buildings in Bhutan

ABSTRACT

This study presents an overview of seismic hazards in Bhutan and the vulnerability of Bhutanese vernacular constructions derived from damage caused by two earthquakes that occurred in 2009 and 2011. Interpretations of damage and seismically vulnerable features of such constructions are provided from field observations. The taxonomy and vulnerability of all existing Bhutanese buildings are presented using a newly developed classification system. Empirical seismic fragility functions for vernacular stone masonry buildings are constructed using the damage data of 2009 and 2011 earthquakes. The sum of observations highlights that Bhutanese masonry buildings are highly vulnerable even in moderate far-field earthquakes.

KEYWORDS:

• Seismic vulnerability
• fragility function
• vernacular construction
• stone masonry
• rammed earth
• Mongar earthquake
• Sikkim-Nepal border earthquake
• Bhutan

Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.