Probabilistic Seismic Loss Assessment of a Vancouver High-Rise Building

Abstract

A seismic loss curve of a real-world building is obtained by means of state-of-the-art models for the impending ground motion, the structure, the damage of structural and nonstructural components, and the ensuing losses. In particular, the seismic hazard at the building’s location (Vancouver, Canada) is described by a comprehensive probabilistic model. It is argued that this ground motion model is particularly appropriate in reliability analysis compared with the more common utilization of a limited set of scaled ground motions. In this paper the probabilistic integrals are carried out by means of a reliability formulation, in which a series of probabilistic models enter. This is referred to as unified reliability analysis to contrast the unified format of the probabilistic models with alternatives, such as suites of ground motions and fragility curves that themselves are created by reliability analysis. A key contribution in this paper is the comprehensive numerical example, which entails an inelastic dynamic analysis of a finite-element model of a building located in Vancouver.