Seismic damage indices for RC buildings: evaluation of concepts and procedures

TLDR

Empirical procedures for damage assessment are briefly referenced. The review clarifies the concepts of seismic damage indices for reinforced concrete buildings and critically evaluates classification schemes, concluding with practical recommendations and future research directions. Typical examples of each index class are presented, and analytical procedures for determining damage indices are evaluated, highlighting associated problems. The most commonly used damage indices are quantitatively evaluated using recent comparative studies, and conclusions emphasize their practical use and suggest future research directions.

Abstract

Abstract This review clarifies the basic concepts involved in defining seismic damage indices for reinforced concrete buildings, and critically reviews the different schemes for classifying these indices. Typical examples are given for each class of indices, with emphasis on more recent studies. The available analytical procedures for the determination of damage indices are evaluated and the associated problems discussed. A brief reference is also made to empirical procedures for damage assessment. The most commonly used damage indices are evaluated in quantitative terms, using data from very recent comparative studies. Finally, conclusions are drawn, focusing on the practical use of these indices, and some directions for future research efforts are identified.