NEHRP Clearinghouse

Title
Risk-Based Seismic Design Criteria for Lifelines, Seismic Design Decision Analysis.
File
PB80116734.pdf
Author(s)
Whitman, R. V.
Source
National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Engineering and Applied Science., November 1973, 34 p.
Identifying Number(s)
INTERNAL STUDY-37
Abstract
The need to apply benefit/risk analysis with regard to the anti-seismic design of engineered facilities is addressed. It involves quantitative evaluation of the benefits to be achieved by more stringent requirements for resistance to earthquakes and systematic approaches to assembling and portraying this information so that it may be used as a basis for decision making. Presented is a general methodology based on three major types of effort: hazard exposure analysis; quantification of the relationships between design requirements and cost of the facility and resistance to damage; and evaluation of all costs and losses. A pilot application to the choice of lateral force requirements for buildings is described, and some of the problems that must be faced in applying this methodology in the field of lifeline earthquake engineering are considered. Included are a flow diagram outlining the methodology and a table of possible general design guidelines for lifelines.
Keywords
Decision theory; Seismic design; Earthquake resistant structures; Benefit cost analysis; Risk analysis; Seismic risk; Structural design; Buildings; Earthquake engineering; Risk; Earthquakes