Displacement-Based Simplified Seismic Loss Assessment of Steel Buildings

Evaluating losses consequent to damages induced by earthquakes has become one main paradigm in seismic performance assessment. Within this context, this paper explores a simplified seismic loss assessment methodology for steel structures that utilises displacement-based assessment in place of non-linear dynamic analyses. To this end, two case studies have been considered: (i) an archetype existing single-storey non-residential building, (ii) a prototype new multi-story residential building. Comparing results obtained using the fully probabilistic and the simplified displacement-based assessment methodologies allows the benefits of the simplified method to be highlighted. Possible difficulties encountered in applying the simplified method are also identified.