Seismic fragility assessment of confined masonry building stocks using an analytical method: A case study of fergana city

Abstract

At the regional level, assessing the seismic vulnerability of the existing building stock is an important component of developing effective strategies for seismic risk reduction and seismic risk management in seismically active areas. Fergana City is considered one of the seismically active urban areas of Uzbekistan. In this study, an analytical approach, considered one of the most reliable methods for seismic vulnerability assessment under conditions where sufficient empirical data are not available, was applied. The main objective of the study is to assess the seismic vulnerability of confined masonry buildings, which are widespread in Fergana City and in which load-bearing masonry walls are reinforced with reinforced concrete tie columns and tie beams. Within the framework of the study, field observations were conducted to assess the technical condition of the buildings, and a building inventory was developed based on their structural characteristics. Representative building typologies were selected and modeled using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The nonlinear structural behavior of the buildings was accounted for through Nonlinear Time History Analysis (NLTHA). Synthetic accelerograms specifically developed for the seismic hazard conditions of Fergana City were used as seismic excitation. Based on the results of the analytical analysis, seismic fragility functions were developed for confined masonry buildings for the first time. These functions make it possible to assess the probability of damage to buildings under different levels of seismic excitation and to determine the seismic vulnerability of buildings of this structural type.