Seismic fragility assessment of reinforced concrete high-rise buildings using the uncoupled modal response history analysis (UMRHA)

Abstract

In this study, a simplified approach for the analytical development of fragility curves of high-rise RC buildings is presented. It is based on an approximate modal decomposition procedure known as the Uncoupled Modal Response History Analysis (UMRHA). Using an example of a 55-story case study building, the fragility relationships are developed using the presented approach. Fifteen earthquake ground motions (categorized into 3 groups corresponding to combinations of small or large magnitude and source-to-site distances) are considered for this example. These ground motion histories are scaled for 3 intensity measures (peak ground acceleration, spectral acceleration at 0.2 s and spectral acceleration at 1 s) varying from 0.25 to 2 g. The presented approach resulted in a significant reduction of computational time compared to the detailed Nonlinear Response History Analysis (NLRHA) procedure, and can be applied to assess the seismic vulnerability of complex-natured, higher mode-dominating tall reinforced concrete buildings.