Seismic risk analysis of urban non-engineered buildings: application to an informal settlement in Mérida, Venezuela

Cita com:
hdl:2117/23148
Document typeArticle
Defense date2011-11
Rights accessOpen Access
Abstract
Seismic risk scenarios are obtained for an informal settlement in Mérida (Venezuela), which is
representative of an important number of urban areas in earthquake-prone regions of the developing
world. The vulnerability indices of the buildings range between 0.64 and 0.80 on a scale of 0 to 1. In
an intensity IX earthquake scenario, more than 32% of the buildings would suffer damage of grade 4
(extensive) or greater. A structural analysis of the buildings in the study area shows that they are
unsafe for gravity loads, and that the seismic demands exceed the strength of the constructions.
Simple and comparatively inexpensive measures can improve the seismic performance of these
buildings; the vulnerability can be reduced by about 51%. In an intensity IX earthquake scenario the
expected economic loss before retrofitting the buildings is US$5.36 million, with 275 fatalities; once
retrofit has been carried out, the resulting figures are US$0.39 million and 10 fatalities. Retrofit
would cost US$1.04 million, whereas reconstruction would cost US$19 million.
Description
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-011-9805-9
CitationCastillo, A.; Lopez Almansa, F.; Pujades, L. Seismic risk analysis of urban non-engineered buildings: application to an informal settlement in Mérida, Venezuela. "Natural hazards", Novembre 2011, vol. 59, núm. 2, p. 891-916.
ISSN0921-030X
Publisher versionhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/f8610v914381x157/
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