Site-Specific Fragility Assessment of an RC Building Equipped with MR Dampers

Abstract

Earthquakes, as common natural disasters that cause loss of life and property, prompt the need for minimizing damage and casualties. This is achieved through fragility assessment, a method that involves evaluating a structure’s susceptibility to earthquakes. In this study, the seismic fragility assessment of a 10-story reinforced concrete (RC) frame building equipped with magnetorheological (MR) dampers and exposed to site-specific normalized earthquake records using incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) was investigated. In accordance with IS 1893:2016, site-specific time histories for Zone V were sourced from the PEER NGA database. Subsequently, these records were normalized following FEMA P695 guidelines. Fragility curves were generated utilizing the results from IDA for various damage measures, including maximum interstory drift ratio, maximum top floor acceleration, and maximum base shear, with peak ground acceleration as the intensity measure. Further, a comprehensive seismic fragility assessment was conducted to evaluate the impact of both site- and nonsite-specific earthquake characteristics. Additionally, a parametric study was conducted to assess the performance of buildings equipped with magnetorheological (MR) damper-based control systems. This evaluation examined factors such as control strategy, damper location, number, and voltage to determine their effectiveness in seismic conditions. These findings contribute to risk management and mitigation strategies for buildings equipped with structural control.