A. Sandoli1 & B. Calderoni2
1) Universityof Rome Niccolò Cusano
via Don Carlo Gnocchi, 3
e-mail: antonio.sandoli@unicusano.it
2) University of Naples Federico II
via Claudio, 21
calderon@unina.it
Keywords:Existing masonry buildings, Existing RC buildings, Structural classification, Seismic vulnerability, Territorial scale, Fragility curves.
Abstract.The seismic risk assessment at territorial level represents a very important topic, particularly for allowing the authorities to forecast damage scenarios in case of catastrophic events. Therefore, with particular reference to earthquakes, the knowledge of the seismic risk of a specific area, more or less wide, constitutes an important starting point for the a-priori evaluation of the consequences related to a significant seismic event and for an optimal management of post-seismic phases. Then the risk assessment at territorial level cannot be performed without the evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of existing buildings. Nevertheless, this evaluation cannot be carried out analysing each construction, because it would be practically impossible and even useless for a prevision at wide level.
In this paper, a structural-typological classification of existing masonry and RC buildings is proposed, aimed to an approximate definition of the “global vulnerability” of some areas of the countries. This classification is based mainly on the on-field observation of the structural behaviour showed by the constructions after an earthquake (or however predictable with theoretical considerations).
In particular, the damage suffered and the collapse mechanism experienced by RC and masonry buildings during the past earthquakes highlighted a quite evident correlation among the age of construction, the structural characteristics and the damage levels. Starting from these findings, a typological and structural classification, based on some specific elements of the structural scheme strictly related to both age of construction and corresponding constructional techniques has been defined, and some values of the related seismic vulnerability have been provided. Only for masonry buildings, fragility curves, specifically defined on the base of the proposed classification, are also given.