Correlation of Observed Building Performance with Measured Ground Motion

This report describes an investigation of the correlation of building performance with recorded strong ground motion, and the subsequent development of empirical motion-damage relationships in the form of lognormal fragility curves and derived damage probability matrices. The data used in the project are limited to non-proprietary post-earthquake investigation datasets containing both damaged and undamaged buildings that were systematically collected and archived by experienced engineers within 1000 feet of strong ground motion recording stations.

Empirical lognormal fragility curves are developed for six model building types (including wood, concrete, and steel frame) conditional on 16 strong ground motion parameters and six building demand parameters, using four standard characterizations of building performance (ATC-13, HAZUS99, FEMA 273/356, and Vision 2000). The curves and derived damage probability matrices are compared to models published in ATC-13 (ATC, 1985) and HAZAUS99 (FEMA, 1999). The comparison shows that the relationships developed in the project are quite different from the published models; however, the loss estimates resulting from the application of the models are similar.

Given the small number of datasets used in the analysis, the motion-damage relationships developed in the project are limited in their application. However, the databases of strong ground motion parameters and building performance data developed for the analysis, as well as the methodology outlined and illustrated for developing empirical fragility curves, provide a wealth of information that can be augmented and used in future research on the correlation of building performance with recorded strong ground motion.