NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Models of Threshold Exceedance and Loss Computations of Non-Homogeneous, Spatially Distributed Facilities. Seismic Design Decision Analysis Report No. 30.
- File
- PB80171085.pdf
- Author(s)
- Schumacker, B.; Whitman, R. V.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC. Engineering and Applied Science., March 1977, 125 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- R77-9
- Abstract
- Data and procedures are developed for balancing the increased cost of more resistant construction against the risk of losses during future earthquakes. Such information is relevant in considering measures for monitoring earthquake hazards which utilize knowledge of the probability that different thresholds of loss might be exceeded during any single earthquake. Different sets of probabilities are considered to establish the likelihood of prescribed threshold exceedance. Life safety, of course, is the paramount factor in deciding on measures for earthquake hazard mitigation, but building failures sometimes can be used as an indirect measure of potential for life loss. Life loss is conditional to building failure; and therefore, any model for threshold exceedance of life loss must also be a model for building failure. The report describes various loss thresholds which might be of interest together with a model developed for situations in which a two-state analysis is reasonable. Methods are described which are applicable for multi-state analysis. Applications of some of the methods are given for the areas of greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts.
- Keywords
- Cost analysis; Seismic design; Earthquake resistant structures; Massachusetts; Risk analysis; Mathematical models; Seismic risk; Death; Risk; Earthquake engineering; Boston (Massachusetts); Dynamic structural analysis