Seismic damage prediction by deterministic methods: Concepts and procedures

Abstract

Abstract Although the prediction of seismic damage is primarily a probabilistic problem, deterministic analysis can nevertheless be a valuable tool. This paper reviews the concepts which have been used in damage prediction, and identifies and classifies several specific techniques. Techniques of two types are considered, the first based on the balance between some demand on the structure and its corresponding capacity, and the second on the degradation of some structural property. For each technique, one or more damage parameters can be computed, and from these a damage index can be estimated. Several alternative choices for the damage parameters are identified. Procedures for computing values for these parameters, and relating them to damage indices, are suggested.