SEISMIC VULNERABILITY OF A STRATEGIC BUILDING DESIGNED BY ALGERIAN SEISMIC CODE RPA 99, USING THE CAPACITY SPECTRUM METHOD

摘要

This paper aims to present a methodology to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of Reinforced Concrete (R/C) existing buildings, based on Capacity Spectrum Method (CSM). The seismic capacity of a strategic R/C frame building, designed by the Algerian seismic code RPA99, before Boumerdes Earthquake 2003, is evaluated according to the new revised seismic code RPA99/Version 2003. The CSM procedure results are used to get a safety criterion for the R/C frame structure, to evaluate its seismic vulnerability and take decision on the potential strengthening of the building. The capacity approach in terms of force and deformation will be the way for checking the resistance of the structure such as limitation in deformation. Pushover analysis method is adopted in order to obtain the performance curve of the existing building using a three dimensional nonlinear program CANNY. A Nonlinear Time History Analysis is also performed using real accelerograms of Boumerdes, 2003 (Algeria) and El-Centro, 1940 (USA) to check the building's performance. It's shown that this methodology is practical and provides accurate results on the vulnerability of middle and low rise R/C frame structures.