Steel and Composite Structures

Volume 59, Number 2, 2026, pages 239-272

DOI: 10.12989/scs.2026.59.2.239

Development of seismic vulnerability assessment models of RC structures considering functionality and construction age

Si-Qi Li , Lin-Lin Zheng , Nicola Chieffo

Abstract

The seismic risk and vulnerability of multistorey reinforced concrete (RC) structures built in different eras for various functions vary significantly. However, seismic risk analysis of regional RC building portfolios considering age and diverse functional requirements has rarely been conducted. This paper innovatively considers aging and structural-functional requirements, updating the traditional probabilistic earthquake risk and hazard model. Using the Chinese macroseismic intensity standards and seismic hazard model developed here, a novel monitoring seismic intensity bundle with time histories and spectral curves considering 270,000 acceleration values was generated (nine real stations of the Luding earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, on September 5, 2022 were used). This paper innovatively uses monitoring intensity as an auxiliary scale and Chinese macrointensity as the main quantitative scale to estimate the vulnerability level of 622 RC buildings surveyed after the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, China, on May 12, 2008. A structural seismic vulnerability statistical model considering age and functional requirements is established. The damage to low-height reinforced concrete (LRC) and medium-height reinforced concrete (MRC) building clusters with different ages and functional requirements varies according to the intensity zones. Using mathematical statistics and failure mode analysis methods, a comparison of structural seismic vulnerability considering functional and age effects was generated. In particular, a structural seismic vulnerability plane model considering age and functional requirements was generated via cumulative damage probability (CDP) and two-dimensional plane density estimation. An updated seismic vulnerability index (USVI) function was also proposed, and USVI stripe zones and curves considering structural failure datasets were developed.

Key Words

age and functional requirements; earthquake risk mitigation strategies; multistorey reinforced concrete structure; seismic risk and vulnerability model; updated seismic vulnerability index curve

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