Fragility of Bench-Mounted Equipment Considering Uncertain Parameters

Abstract

This paper presents analytically developed seismic fragility curves for unattached bench-mounted equipment considering representative building, bench, and equipment interface properties. The emphasis of the study is on rigid scientific equipment, which is often placed on the surface of ceramic laboratory benches in science laboratories or other buildings. The paper first addresses the inherent uncertainty in the frictional behavior of the equipment supported on benches (defined by the static and kinetic coefficients of friction,