Performance of Buildings under Earthquakes in Barcelona, Spain

The seismic risk of the buildings of Barcelona, Spain, is analyzed by using a method based on the capacity spectrum. The seismic hazard in the area of the city is described by means of the reduced 5% damped elastic response spectrum. Obtaining fragility curves for the most important building types of an urban center requires an important amount of information about the structures and the use of nonlinear structural analysis tools. The information on the buildings of Barcelona was obtainedby collecting, arranging, improving, and completing the database of the housing and current buildings. The buildings existing in Barcelona are mainly of two types: unreinforced masonry structures and reinforced concrete buildings with waffled slab floors. In addition, the Arc-View software was used to create a GIS tool for managing the collected information to develop seismic risk scenarios. This study shows that the vulnerability of the buildings is significant and therefore, in spite of the medium to low seismic hazard in the area of the city, the expected seismic risk is considerable

Seismic hazard and risk scenarios for Barcelona, Spain, using the Risk-UE vulnerability index method

The vulnerability index method, in its version developed in the framework of the European project Risk-UE, has been adapted and applied in this article, to evaluate the seismic risk for the city of Barcelona (Spain) through a GIS based tool. According to this method, which defines five damage states, the action is expressed in terms of the macroseismic intensity and the seismic quality of the buildings by means of a vulnerability index. The probabilities of damage states are obtained considering a binomial or beta-equivalent probability distribution. The most relevant seismic risk evaluation results obtained, for current buildings and monuments of Barcelona, are given in the article as scenarios of expected losses

Seismic vulnerability assessment and characterisation of the buildings on Faial Island, Azores

The earthquake of the 9th of July 1998 that hit in the central group of the Azores archipelago greatly affected the islands of Faial, Pico and São Jorge, reaching a magnitude of Mw 6.2 with the epicentre located about 15km northeast of the Faial Island. This earthquake allowed the collection of an unprecedented quantity of data concerning the characterisation of the building stock and the damage suffered by construction. This is the main purpose of this research, consisting essentially of three main aspects: (i) A detailed characterisation of the building stock, assigning a five category classification, from old traditional rubble stone masonry to reinforced concrete moment framed buildings; (ii) A detailed damage grade classification based on the different damage mechanisms observed; and, (iii) A seismic vulnerability assessment of the building stock. The results of the vulnerability assessment together with the building stock database and damage classification were integrated into a GIS tool, allowing the spatial visualation of damage scenarios, which is potentially useful for the planning of emergency response strategies and retrofitting priorities to mitigate and manage seismic risk

Probabilistic seismic risk assessment using CRISIS2015 & USERISK2015. Application to buildings of Barcelona, Spain.

The probabilistic models to assess seismic hazard and seismic risk incorporated into the codes CRISIS2015 & USERISK2015, respectively, are applied to compute the seismic risk of buildings of Barcelona. The main procedures required to assess the seismic risk using these codes are briefly described in the present document. A new version of USERISK, which is being developed in the Barcelona Supercomputing Center was used in the present work. According to the results, the levels of seismic risk of the Eixample District of Barcelona are important due mainly to the high levels of seismic vulnerability of its buildings

Seismic risk in the city of Al Hoceima (north of Morocco) using the vulnerability index method, applied in Risk-UE project

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2566-8Al Hoceima is one of the most seismic active regions in north of Morocco. It is demonstrated by the large seismic episodes reported in seismic catalogs and research studies. However, seismic risk is relatively high due to vulnerable buildings that are either old or don’t respect seismic standards. Our aim is to present a study about seismic risk and seismic scenarios for the city of Al Hoceima. The seismic vulnerability of the existing residential buildings was evaluated using the vulnerability index method (Risk-UE). It was chosen to be adapted and applied to the Moroccan constructions for its practicality and simple methodology. A visual inspection of 1102 buildings was carried out to assess the vulnerability factors. As for seismic hazard, it was evaluated in terms of macroseismic intensity for two scenarios (a deterministic and probabilistic scenario). The maps of seismic risk are represented by direct damage on buildings, damage to population and economic cost. According to the results, the main vulnerability index of the city is equal to 0.49 and the seismic risk is estimated as Slight (main damage grade equal to 0.9 for the deterministic scenario and 0.7 for the probabilistic scenario). However, Moderate to heavy damage is expected in areas located in the newer extensions, in both the east and west of the city. Important economic losses and damage to the population are expected in these areas as well. The maps elaborated can be a potential guide to the decision making in the field of seismic risk prevention and mitigation strategies in Al Hoceima.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Assessment of biocompatibility of 3D printed photopolymers using zebrafish embryo toxicity assays

3D printing has emerged as a rapid and cost-efficient manufacturing technique to enable the fabrication of bespoke, complex prototypes. If the technology is to have a significant impact in biomedical applications, such as drug discovery and molecular diagnostics, the devices produced must be biologically compatible to enable their use with established reference assays and protocols. In this work we demonstrate that we can adapt the Fish Embryo Test (FET) as a new method to quantify the toxicity of 3D printed microfluidic devices. We assessed the biocompatibility of four commercially available 3D printing polymers (VisiJetCrystal EX200, Watershed 11122XC, Fototec SLA 7150 Clear and ABSplus P-430), through the observation of key developmental markers in the developing zebrafish embryos. Results show all of the photopolymers to be highly toxic to the embryos, resulting in fatality, although we do demonstrate that postprinting treatment of Fototec 7150 makes it suitable for zebrafish culture within the FET

Vulnerability Index: A New Approach for Preventive Conservation of Monuments

A new approach is developed for vulnerability analysis of monuments based on a matrix model and the relationships with static and structural factors, climatic conditions, air quality, urban planning and social agents for preventive conservation of cultural heritage in urban centers. The objective is to provide tools for decision-makers in the current recession to allow them to prioritize strategies for cultural heritage preservation in a town, where territorial policies are applied and regions where restoration budget is distributed. This new tool allow to classify monuments in order to prioritize restoration and is a useful tool in deeper analysis associated to risks assessment. The degradation of building materials and structures is mainly due to deterioration caused by structural instability, weathering, pollution and anthropogenic damage. The vulnerability approach of each monument (vulnerability indexes) were calculated, based on a Leopold matrix that depends on intrinsic variables and the life of the monuments. For the very first time, the influence of different deterioration agents has been balanced with a Delphi forecast based on architects¿ opinions. The result is a new pre-Artificial Intelligence tool that enables users to reproduce human reasoning to study relations between vulnerability factors, risk factors and the historical parameters of the monuments.Universidad Pablo de OlavidePostprin

Multiphysics and Thermodynamic Formulations for Equilibrium and Non-equilibrium Interactions: Non-linear Finite Elements Applied to Multi-coupled Active Materials

[EN] Combining several theories this paper presents a general multiphysics framework applied to the study of coupled and active materials, considering mechanical, electric, magnetic and thermal fields. The framework is based on thermodynamic equilibrium and non-equilibrium interactions, both linked by a two-temperature model. The multi-coupled governing equations are obtained from energy, momentum and entropy balances; the total energy is the sum of thermal, mechanical and electromagnetic parts. The momentum balance considers mechanical plus electromagnetic balances; for the latter the Abraham rep- resentation using the Maxwell stress tensor is formulated. This tensor is manipulated to automatically fulfill the angular momentum balance. The entropy balance is for- mulated using the classical Gibbs equation for equilibrium interactions and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. For the non-linear finite element formulations, this equation requires the transformation of thermoelectric coupling and conductivities into tensorial form. The two-way thermoe- lastic Biot term introduces damping: thermomechanical, pyromagnetic and pyroelectric converse electromagnetic dynamic interactions. Ponderomotrix and electromagnetic forces are also considered. The governing equations are converted into a variational formulation with the resulting four-field, multi-coupled formalism implemented and val- idated with two custom-made finite elements in the research code FEAP. Standard first-order isoparametric eight-node elements with seven degrees of freedom (dof) per node (three displacements, voltage and magnetic scalar potentials plus two temperatures) are used. Non-linearities and dynamics are solved with Newton-Raphson and New- mark-b algorithms, respectively. 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Fuzzy inference system for muti-hazard physical risk assessment in urban areas

The urban areas may be exposed to different natural hazards; in order to jointly evaluate the potential risk, this article proposes a methodology for the qualitative assessment of the multi-hazard physical risk by using a fuzzy inference system called MuHRA by its abbreviations MUlti-Hazard Physical risk assessment. This methodology is based on the fuzzy sets theory and uses expert opinions. It is applicable to the risk evaluation involving a maximum of three natural hazards and uses five levels of risk: very low, low, medium, high and very high. The proposed methodology considers the physical risk in an urban area involving at least three potential effects: predominant damage that varies with the type of hazard; impact on the population, and damage in lifelines. According to the available information for the urban area to be assessed, the physical risk to a natural hazard can be evaluated, either through expert opinion or a more detailed assessment, and then they are combined and synthesized into a single multi-hazard physical risk index (RFmh). The MuHRA methodology is applied to the multi-hazard risk evaluation for the city Merida-Venezuela considering both, the seismic hazard and the landslides. This application shows the versatility and robustness of the methodology, which can be adapted according to the information available in each case study

Evaluation of the seismic hazard of Barcelona and its application to the estimation of the seismic risk of the city

In the present work, the main steps used in the probabilistic estimation of the seismic hazard of the city of Barcelona, ​​Spain, are described, and it is mentioned how the hazard was used in the probabilistic estimation of the seismic risk of the city. For comparative purposes, the seismic hazard of Barcelona was estimated both in terms of exceedance rate of the macroseismic intensities, and in terms of exceedance rate of the maximum ground acceleration (PGA). In the estimation, the computer code CRISIS2008 (Ordaz et al., 2008) was used, which is based on the methodology proposed by Cornell (1968) and Esteva (1970). This code incorporates valuable tools that allow estimates of seismic hazards to be made at an important level of detail. According to the results, in Barcelona, ​​the PGA value equal to 85 cm/s2, has an average return period of 475 years. The results obtained in terms of macroseismic intensities, indicate that the intensity that has an average a return period of 475 years corresponds to a value between VI and VII. The seismic hazard curves in terms of macroseismic exceedance rates were obtained with the aim of being used in the estimation of the seismic risk of the city by means of the probabilistic method of vulnerability indices (Aguilar, 2011). According to the results, in the city there are buildings with a high level of seismic risk. This is because, despite the fact that Barcelona is located in a zone of low to moderate seismicity, there is a significant percentage of buildings with significantly high levels of seismic vulnerability. The seismic risk curves obtained are expressed in terms of exceedance frequencies of the degrees of seismic damage