Earthquake vulnerability assessment of non-engineered URM residential buildings

Abstract

In many developing countries, unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings are often constructed without following established engineering practices, increasing the risk in seismically active areas. It is therefore imperative to develop a practical and cost-effective method for assessing the seismic vulnerability of these types of residential structures. This study focuses on the development of an approach to assess the seismic vulnerability of non-engineered URM residential buildings in earthquake-prone urban areas. The methodology modifies the macroseismic vulnerability method by using existing fragility curves to simulate local damage scenarios. In addition, it incorporates multi-criteria decision making techniques, namely: (i) the Analytical Hierarchy Process; and, (ii) the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. These MCDM techniques are used to weigh key structural parameters and develop a comprehensive vulnerability index. Applied to developing countries, this approach provides a detailed vulnerability assessment and simulates various damage scenarios. The results confirm the robustness of the proposed methodology and highlight its potential for wider application in places with similar URM building stock and seismic context.