Seismic Loss Estimation Using Visual Damage Models

This paper presents models for visual damage, together with a methodology for seismic loss estimation based on that type of damage prediction. The methodology predicts repair cost, duration, and labor hours. The visual damage models address reinforced concrete slabs, columns, and shear walls. A damage mesh discretizes the building components into regions in which the stresses and strains are expected to influence the observable surface damage. Mimicking the considerations of post earthquake inspectors, repair actions are selected based on the visual damage. The repair actions, in conjunction with a construction costing database, provide detailed and up-to-date seismic loss estimates. Two case studies are presented, the first addressing a reinforced concrete shear wall, whose repair cost and duration are compared with an existing state-of-the-art seismic loss methodology. A comprehensive study of a six-storey residential building subjected to earthquake ground motions is also presented. The analysis, which is characterized by an unprecedented level of model granularity, demonstrates the advantages of considering finite element responses beyond interstory drift ratio when predicting damage. The results also show how the ground shaking duration, and the damage accumulated during the initial part of the shaking, influence the subsequent repairs.