Comprehensive Evaluation Method on Earthquake Damage Using Fuzzy Theory

Abstract

Recent earthquakes have caused much damage to newly developed urban areas in various new patterns. Also, the patterns of earthquakes' influences on citizens and society have been changing rapidly. The methods for disaster evaluation available now are not quite satisfactory. It is of great significance to develop a comprehensive method for earthquake damage evaluation. In the present paper, a comprehensive evaluation method on earthquake damage was developed by using fuzzy sets theory. As a case verification, a comparison was made between the observed data and the evaluation results of damage during past earthquakes in the world. Based on the on-the-spot investigation data of the past nine earthquakes of Japan, evaluations were made on the damage characteristics of various structures from different distances to damage centers.