Simulation-Based Assessment of Postearthquake Functionality of Buildings with Disruptions to Cross-Dependent Utility Networks

Abstract

Buildings are central to the vitality of any community, and assessing their time-dependent functionality following a hazard event is central to resilience quantification. Such an assessment requires consideration of the physical damage to buildings and their dependence on interconnected lifeline systems. In this study, a methodology is formulated to quantify postearthquake functionality by considering both the physical damage to buildings caused by ground shaking and the disruptions to the cross-dependent utilities that support the community. The methodology is illustrated by modeling the interconnected networks of the city of Napa, California, and simulating the recovery process of the electric power network, water network, and building cluster for a specified earthquake scenario. The proposed methodology can be implemented in resilience-based risk-informed decision-making tools to provide a wealth of information to community leaders, stakeholders, and policymakers.