La vulnerabilidad sísmica en edificaciones de mediana altura y la identificación de zonas seguras mediante análisis modal: caso Centro de Documentación Juan Bautista

Abstract

In order to generate a seismic vulnerability assessment model for buildings through the study of the structural configuration and material characterization of the building, the Juan Bautista Vásquez Regional Documentation Center building, located in the city of Cuenca - Ecuador, has been analyzed as a case study through the collection of information on structural elements and the application of a modal analysis. The methodological approach proposed to analyze this building integrates several dynamics: architectural survey, application of non-destructive testing, generation of a BIM model and a mathematical model; these variables are integrated into a single systematic process to know the behavior that a building will present in an earthquake. The high level of uncertainty about the performance of existing buildings in the city and their evident lack of seismic-resistant considerations at the design level, allows to demonstrate the importance of reducing seismic vulnerability, mainly in essential buildings, of massive occupation and of public character to preserve their operability and guarantee the safety of their occupants. The study observes the seismic behavior and evaluates the vulnerability of the building to determine the areas of greatest risk and determine better conditions for its occupation. The application and dissemination of this methodology represents a contribution to the observation of processes at the level of structural analysis and damage estimation due to seismic actions, as well as its application to other environments.