Research on the Seismic Response of Residential Buildings Located in Areas of High Seismic Risk in Cuba

Abstract

Probabilistic assessment expressed through analytical fragility curves of the multifamily housing buildings, located in the southeastern region of Cuba, is presented. Motivated by the latest update of the Cuban code for seismic resistance analysis of structures, NC 46:2017, which has been the object of important changes with regard to the seismic design approaches, the evaluation of the adequacy of existing structures becomes an imperative. Additional reasons that emphasize this need are related to the update of the seismic hazard map for Cuba dated 2017, in which the values of spectral accelerations have been significantly increased, compared to the normative in use at the date of these structures were erected. This fact justifies the seismic reassessment program of a large number of housing buildings located in high-risk areas. To express the structural response under seismic loading, the nonlinear procedures for seismic performance assessment of buildings which combine nonlinear static (pushover) analysis of entire structure and nonlinear response history analysis (NRHA) of an equivalent single-degree-offreedom (SDOF) model have been used. Finally, seismic behavior of one selected structural system through the analytical fragility curves is obtained.