Seismic vulnerability assessment of hospital buildings in Kabul city (Afghanistan) using applied technology council (ATC – 21)

The recent earthquakes in Afghanistan and the other regions of the world showed that we are not safe enough from earthquakes. Due to the situation and the unnecessary growth of urbanization in Kabul City, the occurrence of a strong earthquake in this city will cause a lot of damage and casualties. Hospitals should be able to provide immediate occupancy after an earthquake in order to reducing casualties caused by the earthquake. This research purpose is to rapid seismic vulnerability assessment of existing hospital buildings in Kabul City. Thus, a rapid seismic vulnerability assessment of 26 hospitals, which have 79 buildings, including 1 steel moment resisting frame, 18 unreinforced masonry, and 60 reinforced concrete buildings, was done. The seismic vulnerability of buildings was investigated according to the ATC-21 method. In this method, relatively cheap assessments are done (without detailed analysis for potentially dangerous buildings). According to the final scores in the event of an earthquake; the seismic vulnerability of hospital buildings is probable and the degree of this seismic vulnerability is varies. The probability of damage to 4 buildings (D5-D4) and to 15 buildings (D4-D3), as well as the probability of damage to 60 buildings (D3-D2) were estimated. According to the final scores, unreinforced masonry hospital buildings had the highest probability of collapse (100%) and steel moment resisting frame hospital buildings had the lowest probability of collapse (1.44%).Therefore, these buildings vulnerability should be assessed by details and accordingly, rehabilitation and retrofitting or other suitable plans for them should be reviewed.