Seismic vulnerability functions and seismic damage probability matrices for masonry buildings using techniques simulation

A methodology to define the damage resulting from a given seismic level in masonry buildings using simulated vulnerability functions is presented in this work. The proposed methodology consists in utilizing a vulnerability index correlating it to a damage index in function of a given seismic event. The vulnerability index model corresponds to the model reported formerly by Maldonado et al., 2007. The damage index was determined by a demand/capacity ratio, evaluating the stress using the Abrams' Model. The function design process required the utilization of a wide sample of buildings. Simulation techniques allowed the running of simulation in 6000 hypothetical buildings. For each hypothetical building its vulnerability index and its damage index was calculated for different maximum acceleration values, ranging from 0,05 g to 0,25 g. Probability of seismic damage vulnerability and matrix functions were constructed with these data for each of these acceleration values. Thus, the functions and matrixes of damage probability contributed to understand the damage that masonry buildings might endure in a given value of maximum acceleration in function of its vulnerability estimate. The functions defined in this study were utilized in the assessment of damages produced by a seism of a given level in buildings located at a sector of the Metropolitan Area of Bucaramanga at the Municipality of Floridablanca.