Proposed vulnerability functions to estimate the real damage state of RC buildings after major Turkish earthquakes

The Chapter focuses on the applicability of fragility relationships, to predict the seismic vulnerability of existing structures. Since these relationships offer the probability of exceeding a predefined structural response limit in terms of a ground motion intensity parameter, fragility functions are very practical tools to be employed during urban renewal of metropolitan cities with high seismicity. A building ensemble which experienced various damage levels after major Turkish earthquakes is considered herein. Planar structural models for each building are established utilizing DRAIN-2DX computer program and nonlinear dynamic analyses are carried out. The demand parameters are obtained and the capacity is determined in terms of limit states. Finally, fragility relationships recently proposed by various researchers are employed for the building set and compared with the analytical results by means of reflecting the most reliable actual damage state.