Seismic vulnerability analysis of moderate seismicity areas using in situ experimental techniques: from the building to the city scale ? Application to Grenoble and Pointe-\`a-Pitre (France)

TL;DR

This study develops a methodology using ambient vibration data to assess seismic vulnerability of buildings, applying it to Grenoble and Pointe-à-Pitre, and generating fragility curves for moderate seismic risk scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a linear dynamic modal model based on experimental modal parameters for vulnerability assessment in moderate seismic areas, applied to real city data.

Findings

Fragility curves for buildings in Grenoble and Pointe-à-Pitre were successfully developed.

The methodology provides insights into seismic risk for existing buildings in moderate seismic zones.

Ambient vibration analysis effectively informs vulnerability assessments without destructive testing.

Abstract

Seismic vulnerability analysis of existing buildings requires basic information on their structural behaviour. The ambient vibrations of buildings and the modal parameters (frequencies, damping ration and modal shapes) that can be extracted from them naturally include the geometry and quality of material in the linear elastic part of their behaviour. The aim of this work is to use this modal information to help the vulnerability assessment. A linear dynamic modal model based on experimental modal parameters is proposed and the fragility curve corresponding to the damage state ?Slight? is built using this model and a simple formula is proposed. This curve is particularly interesting in moderate seismic areas. This methodology is applied to the Grenoble City where ambient vibrations have been recorded in 61 buildings of various types and to the Pointe-\`a-Pitre City with 7 study-buildings. The fragility curves are developed using the aforementioned methodology. The seismic risk of the study-buildings is discussed by performing seismic scenarios.