Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames

The seismic performance and expected structural damage in reinforced concrete (RC) frames, as in many others, is a critical aspect for design. In this study, a set of RC frames characterized by increasing in-plan and in-height non-regularity is specifically investigated. Four code-conforming three-d...

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Main Authors: Giovanni Smiroldo, Marco Fasan, Chiara Bedon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Buildings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3734
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author Giovanni Smiroldo
Marco Fasan
Chiara Bedon
author_facet Giovanni Smiroldo
Marco Fasan
Chiara Bedon
author_sort Giovanni Smiroldo
collection DOAJ
description The seismic performance and expected structural damage in reinforced concrete (RC) frames, as in many others, is a critical aspect for design. In this study, a set of RC frames characterized by increasing in-plan and in-height non-regularity is specifically investigated. Four code-conforming three-dimensional (3D) buildings with varying regularity levels are numerically analyzed. Their seismic assessment is conducted by using unscaled real ground motion records (61 in total) and employing non-linear dynamic simulations within the Cloud Analysis framework. Three distinct intensity measures (<i>IMs</i>) are used to evaluate the impact of structural non-regularity on their seismic performance. Furthermore, fragility curves are preliminary derived based on conventional linear regression models and lognormal distribution. In contrast with the initial expectations and the typical results of non-linear dynamic analyses, the presented comparative results of the fragility curves show that the non-regularity level increase for the examined RC frames does not lead to progressively increasing fragility. Upon these considerations on the initial numerical findings, a re-evaluation of the methodology is performed using a reduced subset of ground motion records, in order to account for potential biases in their selection. Moreover, to uncover deeper insights into the unexpected outcomes, a logistic regression based on a maximum likelihood estimate is also employed to develop fragility curves. Comparative results are thus critically discussed, showing that the herein considered fragility development methods may lead to seismic assessment outcomes for code-conforming non-regular buildings that are in contrast with those of raw structural analyses. In fact, the considered building code design provisions seem to compensate non-regularity-induced torsional effects.
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spelling doaj-art-9799ea0d600d497cbfd3b5626bdbd7f82025-08-20T02:50:56ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-11-011412373410.3390/buildings14123734Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete FramesGiovanni Smiroldo0Marco Fasan1Chiara Bedon2Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6/1, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6/1, 34127 Trieste, ItalyDepartment of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6/1, 34127 Trieste, ItalyThe seismic performance and expected structural damage in reinforced concrete (RC) frames, as in many others, is a critical aspect for design. In this study, a set of RC frames characterized by increasing in-plan and in-height non-regularity is specifically investigated. Four code-conforming three-dimensional (3D) buildings with varying regularity levels are numerically analyzed. Their seismic assessment is conducted by using unscaled real ground motion records (61 in total) and employing non-linear dynamic simulations within the Cloud Analysis framework. Three distinct intensity measures (<i>IMs</i>) are used to evaluate the impact of structural non-regularity on their seismic performance. Furthermore, fragility curves are preliminary derived based on conventional linear regression models and lognormal distribution. In contrast with the initial expectations and the typical results of non-linear dynamic analyses, the presented comparative results of the fragility curves show that the non-regularity level increase for the examined RC frames does not lead to progressively increasing fragility. Upon these considerations on the initial numerical findings, a re-evaluation of the methodology is performed using a reduced subset of ground motion records, in order to account for potential biases in their selection. Moreover, to uncover deeper insights into the unexpected outcomes, a logistic regression based on a maximum likelihood estimate is also employed to develop fragility curves. Comparative results are thus critically discussed, showing that the herein considered fragility development methods may lead to seismic assessment outcomes for code-conforming non-regular buildings that are in contrast with those of raw structural analyses. In fact, the considered building code design provisions seem to compensate non-regularity-induced torsional effects.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3734reinforced concretenon-regularityseismic analysisnumerical modelingCloud Analysisfragility curves
spellingShingle Giovanni Smiroldo
Marco Fasan
Chiara Bedon
Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames
Buildings
reinforced concrete
non-regularity
seismic analysis
numerical modeling
Cloud Analysis
fragility curves
title Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames
title_full Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames
title_fullStr Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames
title_full_unstemmed Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames
title_short Seismic Analysis of Non-Regular Structures Based on Fragility Curves: A Study on Reinforced Concrete Frames
title_sort seismic analysis of non regular structures based on fragility curves a study on reinforced concrete frames
topic reinforced concrete
non-regularity
seismic analysis
numerical modeling
Cloud Analysis
fragility curves
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/12/3734
work_keys_str_mv AT giovannismiroldo seismicanalysisofnonregularstructuresbasedonfragilitycurvesastudyonreinforcedconcreteframes
AT marcofasan seismicanalysisofnonregularstructuresbasedonfragilitycurvesastudyonreinforcedconcreteframes
AT chiarabedon seismicanalysisofnonregularstructuresbasedonfragilitycurvesastudyonreinforcedconcreteframes