Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Search Results (302)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = fragility curves

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
27 pages, 17901 KiB  
Article
Identification of Dominant Controlling Factors and Susceptibility Assessment of Coseismic Landslides Triggered by the 2022 Luding Earthquake
by Jin Wang, Mingdong Zang, Jianbing Peng, Chong Xu, Zhandong Su, Tianhao Liu and Menghao Li
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(16), 2797; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17162797 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 159
Abstract
Coseismic landslides are geological events in which slopes, either on the verge of instability or already in a fragile state, experience premature failure due to seismic shaking. On 5 September 2022, an Ms 6.8 earthquake struck Luding County, Sichuan Province, China, triggering numerous [...] Read more.
Coseismic landslides are geological events in which slopes, either on the verge of instability or already in a fragile state, experience premature failure due to seismic shaking. On 5 September 2022, an Ms 6.8 earthquake struck Luding County, Sichuan Province, China, triggering numerous landslides that caused severe casualties and property damage. This study systematically interprets 13,717 coseismic landslides in the Luding earthquake’s epicentral area, analyzing their spatial distribution concerning various factors, including elevation, slope gradient, slope aspect, plan curvature, profile curvature, surface cutting degree, topographic relief, elevation coefficient variation, lithology, distance to faults, epicentral distance, peak ground acceleration (PGA), distance to rivers, fractional vegetation cover (FVC), and distance to roads. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was improved by incorporating frequency ratio (FR) to address the subjectivity inherent in expert scoring for factor weighting. The improved AHP, combined with the Pearson correlation analysis, was used to identify the dominant controlling factor and assess the landslide susceptibility. The accuracy of the model was verified using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). The results reveal that 34% of the study area falls into very-high- and high-susceptibility zones, primarily along the Moxi segment of the Xianshuihe fault and both sides of the Dadu river valley. Tianwan, Caoke, Detuo, and Moxi are at particularly high risk of coseismic landslides. The elevation coefficient variation, slope aspect, and slope gradient are identified as the dominant controlling factors for landslide development. The reliability of the proposed model was evaluated by calculating the AUC, yielding a value of 0.845, demonstrating high reliability. This study advances coseismic landslide susceptibility assessment and provides scientific support for post-earthquake reconstruction in Luding. Beyond academic insight, the findings offer practical guidance for delineating priority zones for risk mitigation, planning targeted engineering interventions, and establishing early warning and monitoring strategies to reduce the potential impacts of future seismic events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in AI-Driven Remote Sensing for Geohazard Perception)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 3980 KiB  
Article
A Two-Stage Restoration Method for Distribution Networks Considering Generator Start-Up and Load Recovery Under an Earthquake Disaster
by Lin Peng, Aihua Zhou, Junfeng Qiao, Qinghe Sun, Zhonghao Qian, Min Xu and Sen Pan
Electronics 2025, 14(15), 3049; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14153049 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 265
Abstract
Earthquakes can severely disrupt power distribution networks, causing extensive outages and disconnection from the transmission grid. This paper proposes a two-stage restoration method tailored for post-earthquake distribution systems. First, earthquake-induced damage is modeled using ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) and fragility curves, and [...] Read more.
Earthquakes can severely disrupt power distribution networks, causing extensive outages and disconnection from the transmission grid. This paper proposes a two-stage restoration method tailored for post-earthquake distribution systems. First, earthquake-induced damage is modeled using ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) and fragility curves, and degraded network topologies are generated by Monte Carlo simulation. Then, a time-domain generator start-up model is developed as a mixed-integer linear program (MILP), incorporating cranking power and radial topology constraints. Further, a prioritized load recovery model is formulated as a mixed-integer second-order cone program (MISOCP), integrating power flow, voltage, and current constraints. Finally, case studies demonstrate the effectiveness and general applicability of the proposed method, confirming its capability to support resilient and adaptive distribution network restoration under various earthquake scenarios. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3734 KiB  
Article
FMR1 Methylation Pattern and Repeat Expansion Screening in a Cohort of Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Correlation of Genetic Findings with Clinical Presentations
by Maria Dobre, Gisela Gaina, Alina Erbescu, Adelina Glangher, Florentina Ionela Linca, Doina Ioana, Emilia Maria Severin, Florina Rad, Mihaela Catrinel Iliescu, Sorina Mihaela Papuc, Mihail Eugen Hinescu, Aurora Arghir and Magdalena Budișteanu
Genes 2025, 16(8), 903; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes16080903 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 339
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental conditions with early onset of clinical manifestations. ASD etiology is highly heterogeneous, with genetic factors being strong determinants of the behavioral problems and neurodevelopmental deficits. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) (OMIM #300624), caused by the transcriptional silencing [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental conditions with early onset of clinical manifestations. ASD etiology is highly heterogeneous, with genetic factors being strong determinants of the behavioral problems and neurodevelopmental deficits. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) (OMIM #300624), caused by the transcriptional silencing of the FMR1 gene, represents the most common monogenic cause of autism. Our study included 226 boys with a diagnosis of ASD, for a systematic screening of genetic and epigenetic defects in the FMR1 gene promoter in a Romanian pediatric cohort. Methods: The methods, methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) and triplet-primed PCR (TP-PCR)/melt curve analysis (MCA), were chosen for their ability to detect the methylation anomalies (the former) as well as repeat expansions in the FMR1 promoter (the latter). Results: Both methods used in our screening generated concordant results, detecting FMR1 full mutation in 4 out of 226 patients (~1.8%). This yield is similar to data obtained in larger studies. Three out of four boys presented the typical clinical features, in correlation with genetic findings. Conclusions: The combined use of MS-MLPA and TP-PCR/MCA-based assay was, in our experience, useful to fully describe the genetic defects responsible for FXS. A significant variability of clinical presentations was observed in our small group of children with FXS, from mild to severe intellectual disability and from atypical to characteristic dysmorphic features, as well as various behavioral problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases)
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 979 KiB  
Article
AI-Enhanced Coastal Flood Risk Assessment: A Real-Time Web Platform with Multi-Source Integration and Chesapeake Bay Case Study
by Paul Magoulick
Water 2025, 17(15), 2231; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152231 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 427
Abstract
A critical gap exists between coastal communities’ need for accessible flood risk assessment tools and the availability of sophisticated modeling, which remains limited by technical barriers and computational demands. This study introduces three key innovations through Coastal Defense Pro: (1) the first operational [...] Read more.
A critical gap exists between coastal communities’ need for accessible flood risk assessment tools and the availability of sophisticated modeling, which remains limited by technical barriers and computational demands. This study introduces three key innovations through Coastal Defense Pro: (1) the first operational web-based AI ensemble for coastal flood risk assessment integrating real-time multi-agency data, (2) an automated regional calibration system that corrects systematic model biases through machine learning, and (3) browser-accessible implementation of research-grade modeling previously requiring specialized computational resources. The system combines Bayesian neural networks with optional LSTM and attention-based models, implementing automatic regional calibration and multi-source elevation consensus through a modular Python architecture. Real-time API integration achieves >99% system uptime with sub-3-second response times via intelligent caching. Validation against Hurricane Isabel (2003) demonstrates correction from 197% overprediction (6.92 m predicted vs. 2.33 m observed) to accurate prediction through automated identification of a Chesapeake Bay-specific reduction factor of 0.337. Comprehensive validation against 15 major storms (1992–2024) shows substantial improvement over standard methods (RMSE = 0.436 m vs. 2.267 m; R2 = 0.934 vs. −0.786). Economic assessment using NACCS fragility curves demonstrates 12.7-year payback periods for flood protection investments. The open-source Streamlit implementation democratizes access to research-grade risk assessment, transforming months-long specialist analyses into immediate browser-based tools without compromising scientific rigor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Flood Hazard Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1588 KiB  
Article
Seismic Fragility and Loss Assessment of a Multi-Story Steel Frame with Viscous Damper in a Corrosion Environment
by Wenwen Qiu, Haibo Wen, Chenhui Gong, Zhenkai Zhang, Wenjing Li and Shuo Li
Buildings 2025, 15(14), 2515; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142515 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 235
Abstract
Corrosion can accelerate the deterioration of the mechanical properties of steel structures. However, few studies have systematically evaluated its impact on seismic performance, particularly with respect to seismic economic losses. In this paper, the seismic fragility and loss assessment of a multi-story steel [...] Read more.
Corrosion can accelerate the deterioration of the mechanical properties of steel structures. However, few studies have systematically evaluated its impact on seismic performance, particularly with respect to seismic economic losses. In this paper, the seismic fragility and loss assessment of a multi-story steel frame with viscous dampers (SFVD) building are investigated through experimental and numerical analysis. Based on corrosion and tensile test results, OpenSees software 3.3.0 was used to model the SFVD, and the effect of corrosion on the seismic fragility was evaluated via incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). Then, the economic losses of the SFVD during different seismic intensities were assessed at various corrosion times based on fragility analysis. The results show that as the corrosion time increases, the mass and cross-section loss rate of steel increase, causing a decrease in mechanical property indices, and theprobability of exceedance of the SFVD in the limit state increases gradually with increasing corrosion time, with an especially significant impact on the collapse prevention (CP) state. Furthermore, the economic loss assessment based on fragility curves indicates that the economic loss increases with corrosion time. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide guidance for the seismic design and risk management of steel frame buildings in coastal regions throughout their life cycle. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 12918 KiB  
Article
Time-Dependent Fragility Functions and Post-Earthquake Residual Seismic Performance for Existing Steel Frame Columns in Offshore Atmospheric Environment
by Xiaohui Zhang, Xuran Zhao, Shansuo Zheng and Qian Yang
Buildings 2025, 15(13), 2330; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15132330 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
This paper evaluates the time-dependent fragility and post-earthquake residual seismic performance of existing steel frame columns in offshore atmospheric environments. Based on experimental research, the seismic failure mechanism and deterioration laws of the seismic behavior of corroded steel frame columns were revealed. A [...] Read more.
This paper evaluates the time-dependent fragility and post-earthquake residual seismic performance of existing steel frame columns in offshore atmospheric environments. Based on experimental research, the seismic failure mechanism and deterioration laws of the seismic behavior of corroded steel frame columns were revealed. A finite element analysis (FEA) method for steel frame columns, which considers corrosion damage and ductile metal damage criteria, is developed and validated. A parametric analysis in terms of service age and design parameters is conducted. Considering the impact of environmental erosion and aging, a classification criterion for damage states for existing steel frame columns is proposed, and the theoretical characterization of each damage state is provided based on the moment-rotation skeleton curves. Based on the test and numerical analysis results, probability distributions of the fragility function parameters (median and logarithmic standard deviation) are constructed. The evolution laws of the fragility parameters with increasing service age under each damage state are determined, and a time-dependent fragility model for existing steel frame columns in offshore atmospheric environments is presented through regression analysis. At a drift ratio of 4%, the probability of complete damage to columns with 40, 50, 60, and 70-year service ages increased by 18.1%, 45.3%, 79.2%, and 124.5%, respectively, compared with columns within a 30-year service age. Based on the developed FEA models and the damage class of existing columns, the influence of characteristic variables (service age, design parameters, and damage level) on the residual seismic capacity of earthquake-damaged columns, namely the seismic resistance that can be maintained even after suffering earthquake damage, is revealed. Using the particle swarm optimization back-propagation neural network (PSO-BPNN) model, nonlinear mapping relationships between the characteristic variables and residual seismic capacity are constructed, thereby proposing a residual seismic performance evaluation model for existing multi-aged steel frame columns in an offshore atmospheric environment. Combined with the damage probability matrix of the time-dependent fragility, the expected values of the residual seismic capacity of existing multi-aged steel frame columns at a given drift ratio are obtained directly in a probabilistic sense. The results of this study lay the foundation for resistance to sequential earthquakes and post-earthquake functional recovery and reconstruction, and provide theoretical support for the full life-cycle seismic resilience assessment of existing steel structures in earthquake-prone areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 10784 KiB  
Article
Structural Reliability Assessment of Dual RC Buildings for Different Shear Wall Configuration
by Fernando Velarde, Juan Bojórquez, Edén Bojórquez, Henry Reyes, Alfredo Reyes-Salazar, Robespierre Chávez, Mario D. Llanes-Tizoc, Federico Valenzuela-Beltrán, José I. Torres, Daniel Yee and Victor Baca
Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111783 - 23 May 2025
Viewed by 564
Abstract
Shear walls, integrated into conventional reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frame systems (RC frame–shear wall building), have proven to be effective in improving the structural performance and reliability of buildings; however, the seismic behavior of the building depends directly on the location of these [...] Read more.
Shear walls, integrated into conventional reinforced concrete (RC) moment-resisting frame systems (RC frame–shear wall building), have proven to be effective in improving the structural performance and reliability of buildings; however, the seismic behavior of the building depends directly on the location of these elements. For this reason, this paper evaluates the structural reliability of ten medium-rise RC buildings designed based on the Mexico City Building Code, considering different shear wall configurations. With the aim to estimate and compare the seismic reliability, the buildings are modeled as complex 3D structures via the OpenSees 3.5 software, which are subjected to different ground motion records representative of the soft soil of Mexico City scaled at different intensity values in order to compute incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). Furthermore, the parameter used to estimate the reliability is the maximum interstory drift (MID), which is obtained from the incremental dynamic analysis in order to assess the structural fragility curves. Finally, the structural reliability estimation is computed via probabilistic models by combining the fragility and seismic hazard curves. It is concluded from the results that the structural reliability is maximized when shear walls are symmetrically distributed. On the other hand, the configuration with walls concentrated in the center of the building tends to oversize the frames to reach a reliability level comparable to that of symmetrical arrangements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2872 KiB  
Review
Challenges in Toxicological Risk Assessment of Environmental Cadmium Exposure
by Soisungwan Satarug
Toxics 2025, 13(5), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13050404 - 16 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 692
Abstract
Dietary exposure to a high dose of cadmium (Cd) ≥ 100 µg/day for at least 50 years or a lifetime intake of Cd ≥ 1 g can cause severe damage to the kidneys and bones. Alarmingly, however, exposure to a dose of Cd [...] Read more.
Dietary exposure to a high dose of cadmium (Cd) ≥ 100 µg/day for at least 50 years or a lifetime intake of Cd ≥ 1 g can cause severe damage to the kidneys and bones. Alarmingly, however, exposure to a dose of Cd between 10 and 15 µg/day and excretion of Cd at a rate below 0.5 µg/g creatinine have been associated with an increased risk of diseases with a high prevalence worldwide, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), fragile bones, diabetes, and cancer. These findings have cast considerable doubt on a “tolerable” Cd exposure level of 58 µg/day for a 70 kg person, while questioning the threshold level for the Cd excretion rate of 5.24 µg/g creatinine. The present review addresses many unmet challenges in a threshold-based risk assessment for Cd. Special emphasis is given to the benchmark dose (BMD) methodology to estimate the Cd exposure limit that aligns with a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL). Cd exposure limits estimated from conventional dosing experiments and human data are highlighted. The results of the BMDL modeling of the relationship between Cd excretion and various indicators of its effects on kidneys are summarized. It is recommended that exposure guidelines for Cd should employ the most recent scientific research data, dose–response curves constructed from an unbiased exposure indicator, and clinically relevant adverse effects such as proteinuria, albuminuria, and a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These are signs of developing CKD and its progression to the end stage, when dialysis or a kidney transplant is required for survival. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 685 KiB  
Article
Fragility-Based Seismic Risk Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns
by Mohamad Nassar and Ahmad Abo El Ezz
Infrastructures 2025, 10(5), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10050123 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 562
Abstract
In earthquake-prone regions, predicting the impact of seismic events on highway bridges is crucial for post-earthquake effective emergency response and recovery planning. This paper presents a methodology for a simplified seismic risk assessment of bridges using fragility curves that integrates updated ductility ratios [...] Read more.
In earthquake-prone regions, predicting the impact of seismic events on highway bridges is crucial for post-earthquake effective emergency response and recovery planning. This paper presents a methodology for a simplified seismic risk assessment of bridges using fragility curves that integrates updated ductility ratios of reinforced concrete bridge columns from literature based on experimental results on cyclic tests of reinforced concrete circular columns. The methodology considers two damage states (cover spalling and bar buckling) for bridge columns with seismic and non-seismic design considerations and then estimates displacement thresholds for each damage state. The Damage Margin Ratio (DMR) is introduced as an index defined by the ratio of the median Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) for a specific damage state to the PGA that corresponds to the target seismic hazard probability of exceedance in 50 years that is typically defined in bridge design and evaluation codes and standards. The DMR is then compared to a user-specified Threshold Damage Margin Ratio (TDMR) to evaluate the level of risk at a specific threshold probability of exceedance of the damage state (5% and 10%). Comparative assessment is conducted for the relative seismic risk and performance of non-seismic and seismic bridges corresponding to the seismic hazard values at 10% and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years for 7 urban centers in the province of Quebec as a case study demonstration of the methodology. The proposed methodology offers a rapid tool for screening and prioritizing bridges for detailed seismic evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Infrastructures and Structural Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 6273 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Seismic Fragility and Code Compliance of Turkish Reinforced Concrete Buildings After the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake
by Ibrahim Oz and Mizbah Omur
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5554; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105554 - 15 May 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1013
Abstract
This study evaluates the seismic fragility and code compliance of reinforced concrete buildings in Turkey following the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake. Sixty representative buildings were modeled in SAP2000, consisting of thirty structures designed according to TEC-1975 and thirty according to TEC-1998. These [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the seismic fragility and code compliance of reinforced concrete buildings in Turkey following the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake. Sixty representative buildings were modeled in SAP2000, consisting of thirty structures designed according to TEC-1975 and thirty according to TEC-1998. These models were subjected to three-dimensional nonlinear time history analyses using ground motions scaled to match the seismic characteristics of the earthquake. Structural performance was assessed by comparing calculated displacement demands with capacity thresholds defined by modern code provisions. The results show that buildings designed under TEC-1998 generally performed better than those constructed according to TEC-1975, particularly in terms of deformation capacity and collapse resistance. Fragility curves and exceedance probabilities were developed to quantify damage likelihoods across different performance levels. When compared with post-earthquake field observations, the analytical models produced lower collapse rates, which may suggest the presence of widespread code noncompliance in the actual building stock. These findings highlight the critical importance of ensuring adherence to seismic design regulations to improve the resilience of existing structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structural Analysis and Seismic Resilience in Civil Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 11046 KiB  
Article
Wind-Induced Dynamic Performance Evaluation of Tall Buildings Considering Future Wind Climate
by Anita Gora, Mingfeng Huang, Chunhe Wang and Ruoyu Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 5073; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15095073 - 2 May 2025
Viewed by 752
Abstract
The ongoing impacts of climate change, driven by both anthropogenic and global warming, significantly influence wind characteristics, resulting in increased wind speeds. Consequently, buildings that currently satisfy safety and serviceability standards may face challenges in the future. Despite extensive studies on wind-induced responses [...] Read more.
The ongoing impacts of climate change, driven by both anthropogenic and global warming, significantly influence wind characteristics, resulting in increased wind speeds. Consequently, buildings that currently satisfy safety and serviceability standards may face challenges in the future. Despite extensive studies on wind-induced responses of tall buildings, there is a notable lack of comparative analyses assessing their performance under both historical and projected future wind conditions influenced by climate change. This study investigates the wind-induced performance of a 151 m tall building located in Suzhou, China, employing time history generation based on power spectral density functions. The analysis evaluates the acceleration responses of the building under both historical and projected future wind scenarios across different return periods and compares the responses to identify the potential changes in the building’s performance due to changing wind conditions. The structural acceleration responses are projected to rise significantly under future wind conditions. Furthermore, this study uses a time-domain Monte Carlo simulation framework to conduct a fragility analysis of the case study building, assessing the comfort of human occupants and the likelihood of exceeding performance thresholds under various wind scenarios. The fragility curve for the case study building is plotted for human occupant comfort as a function of mean wind speed. A substantial increase in the building’s fragility concerning occupant comfort is observed. The future wind climate will significantly impact the performance of tall buildings, necessitating proactive measures to address increased wind-induced effects and ensure long-term safety and habitability. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 10608 KiB  
Article
A Proactive GIS Geo-Database for Castles Damaged by the 2012 Emilia Earthquake
by Elena Zanazzi
Heritage 2025, 8(5), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8050156 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 480
Abstract
The 2012 Emilia earthquake highlighted the vulnerability of fortified architecture. Based on the observed seismic behaviors, this research proposes a GIS geodatabase, designed with a proactive approach, for the prediction and prevention—at a territorial scale—of the most frequent damage mechanisms of the investigated [...] Read more.
The 2012 Emilia earthquake highlighted the vulnerability of fortified architecture. Based on the observed seismic behaviors, this research proposes a GIS geodatabase, designed with a proactive approach, for the prediction and prevention—at a territorial scale—of the most frequent damage mechanisms of the investigated typology. The designed geo-database allows for the identification of possible correlations between constructive features and the occurrence of damage, through statistical and geo-referenced analysis. Moreover, the designed geodatabase, by enabling the comparison of the damage level data with the seismic action of the site, through INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) shakemaps, allowed the definition of experimental fragility curves, for three of the most common damage mechanisms. By applying these functions to castles in the province of Parma, it was possible to define future seismic risk scenarios for the mechanisms considered, thanks to the use of the seismic hazard map. Therefore, the described methodology could be functional to identify the most urgent and high-priority interventions in order to optimize the management of economic resources. The final aim is to promote the application of the concept of minimum intervention, and more in general to preserve the architectural heritage, avoiding emergency interventions and aiming instead to apply planned conservation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Architectural Heritage Management in Earthquake-Prone Areas)
Show Figures

Figure 1

30 pages, 6905 KiB  
Article
Seismic Retrofitting of RC Buildings Using a Performance-Based Approach for Risk Resilience and Vulnerability Assessment
by Hafiz Asfandyar Ahmed and Waqas Arshad Tanoli
Buildings 2025, 15(8), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081333 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1285
Abstract
This paper presents a framework for evaluating the impact of seismic retrofitting alternatives on seismic risk, specifically focusing on economic losses, social losses, environmental losses, resilience, and vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, this study concentrates on the retrofitting [...] Read more.
This paper presents a framework for evaluating the impact of seismic retrofitting alternatives on seismic risk, specifically focusing on economic losses, social losses, environmental losses, resilience, and vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, this study concentrates on the retrofitting of ground story columns, which has proven to be highly effective in enhancing the performance of the structure, particularly when its behavior is mainly governed by column capacities and story response. The methodology is divided into three main parts. The first part involves a global damage evaluation, which is estimated using a seismic vulnerability assessment based on the collapse fragility function. This function is derived from capacity curves obtained through nonlinear pushover analysis. The second part focuses on assessing seismic risk for various earthquake intensities, where fragility functions and consequence functions are derived and evaluated for structural components. This allows for the calculation of losses in terms of social, economic, and environmental impacts. The third part addresses the functionality and recovery of the structure, along with its resilience, by considering repair times and associated delays. Indices are developed for all direct and indirect losses, and weightage factors are assigned to each category to optimize the selection of the most suitable retrofitting alternative for specific scenarios. To illustrate this framework, a five-story hospital building is used as an example, as hospitals are critical structures that need to remain operational after earthquakes. Four retrofitting alternatives are proposed to identify the optimal choice that effectively meets all desired functions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 14223 KiB  
Article
Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Residential RC Buildings in Yemen Using Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA)
by Amr Ahmed Radman Ahmed, Linfeng Lu, Bo Li, Wei Bi and Fawziah Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dhubai
Buildings 2025, 15(8), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081336 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Traditional buildings constructed in Yemen during the 20th century often lacked adequate seismic protection. Today, most reinforced concrete (RC) residential buildings in the country are designed with beam–column systems that primarily carry gravity loads without considering lateral seismic forces. As a result, these [...] Read more.
Traditional buildings constructed in Yemen during the 20th century often lacked adequate seismic protection. Today, most reinforced concrete (RC) residential buildings in the country are designed with beam–column systems that primarily carry gravity loads without considering lateral seismic forces. As a result, these structures are potentially vulnerable to earthquakes and require further investigation. This study aims to develop analytical seismic fragility curves for residential RC buildings in Yemen with varied heights. Three building heights were considered, namely three, five, and seven stories. While in most studies, the infill walls are regarded as non-structural elements, and their contributions to resisting earthquake actions are ignored, in this study, the contribution of the infill wall was taken into account by utilizing a compression strut modeling of the infill wall. In addition, an investigation was conducted to study the effect of soft stories on the seismic vulnerability of residential RC buildings. Finite element models were developed, and 900 Incremental Dynamic Analyses (IDAs) were conducted. Three damage limit states were defined: Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and Collapse Prevention (CP). Based on these results, cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) were calculated to derive the seismic fragility curves. The findings indicate that taller buildings are more likely to reach or exceed the defined damage states, making them more vulnerable to earthquakes. Infilled frame structures demonstrate better seismic performance due to the contribution of infill walls to lateral resistance. In contrast, buildings with soft stories are more vulnerable due to abrupt changes in stiffness, resulting in greater deformation concentration in the soft story. The developed fragility curves provide a quantitative basis for assessing seismic damage in Yemeni RC residential buildings and offer a foundation for future seismic risk evaluations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study on Concrete Structures—2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 8632 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Landslide Susceptibility Based on ReliefF Feature Weight Fusion: A Case Study of Wenxian County, Longnan City
by Zhijun Wang and Chenxi Zhao
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083536 - 15 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 405
Abstract
The Longnan mountainous area, characterized by its complex geological structure and fragile geological environment, is one of the four major regions in China prone to geological disasters. Previous studies have employed traditional evaluation methods to assess landslide susceptibility in the Longnan mountainous area. [...] Read more.
The Longnan mountainous area, characterized by its complex geological structure and fragile geological environment, is one of the four major regions in China prone to geological disasters. Previous studies have employed traditional evaluation methods to assess landslide susceptibility in the Longnan mountainous area. However, these traditional methods are often subjective, and their accuracy and efficiency are difficult to guarantee. This study, supported by GIS technology, focuses on Wen County in Longnan City, a region frequently affected by landslide disasters. Based on 260 collected landslide disaster points, the study combines the ReliefF model to evaluate and zone landslide susceptibility in Wen County, Longnan City, based on feature contribution values. The lithology and rainfall factors have significant impacts on geological disasters, respectively. Areas along rivers and roads, with loose soil, heavy rainfall, steep slopes, and dense vegetation, are more prone to landslide disasters due to the combined effects of natural factors and human activities. This study also uses the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to validate the accuracy of the evaluation results. The area under the curve (AUC) for the ReliefF feature fusion method is 0.853, which is higher than the 0.838 obtained from the information value method. The ReliefF method demonstrates excellent performance in landslide susceptibility evaluation, offering better predictive capability at a lower computational cost, thus achieving a balance between accuracy and efficiency. This approach can provide valuable references for rapid decision-making by relevant geological disaster prevention and management departments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop