Seismic assessment of masonry structures is plagued by both inherent randomness and model uncertainty. The former is referred to as aleatory uncertainty, the latter as epistemic uncertainty because it depends on the knowledge level. Pioneering studies on reinforced concrete buildings have revealed a significant influence of modeling parameters on seismic vulnerability. However, confidence in me...

According to modern seismic codes, in concentrically braced frames the seismic input energy should be dissipated by means of the hysteretic behaviour of braces while all the other members (i.e. beams and columns) have to remain elastic. Accordingly, the design internal forces of braces are determined in these codes by elastic analysis of the structure subjected to seismic forces obtained by the...

differences between stress-based and strain-based criteria are investigated in seismic performance evaluation of the arch dams in time domain. a numerical model of the coupled dam-reservoir-foundation system is prepared with the finite element technique. reservoir is modeled using the eulerian approach as a compressible domain, and the foundation rock is assumed to be massless. dynamic equilibr...

In this paper, a global limit state function for load-carrying capacity of structural system is firstly set up, in which the margin of safety is the difference between the limit base shear of structural system and the total horizontal seismic action. To probabilistically assess the global seismic capacity of structure, a new point estimation method (PEM) for analyzing statistical moments of com...

In this paper a Romanesque masonry church is analysed in order to assess its structural behaviour and its seismic vulnerability with respect to the actual state of conservation. Starting from a specific case study, a contribution to the issue of modelling and analysis of monumental masonry buildings under seismic action is provided. A finite element methodology for the static and dynamic nonlin...

In European seismic areas timber structures are found as building frames, in combination with masonry infills, in bridges, but most frequently in roof structures and floor slabs of traditional buildings. Seismic strengthening of existing structures should provide a well-defined and simple path to seismic forces, maintain timber members elastic, and develop as much as possible the post-elastic b...

Depending on the tectonic activities, most buildings subject to multiple earthquakes, while a single design earthquake is suggested in most seismic design codes. Perhaps, the lack of easy assessment to second shock information and sometimes use of inappropriate methods in estimating these features cause successive earthquakes mainly were ignored in the analysis procedure. In order to overcome t...

In order to evaluate the seismic performance of new-type composite exterior wallboard, a total of six exterior and interior wallboards were incorporated in the experiment of seismic performance. Seismic performance such as the stress process, damage mode, hysteresis and skeleton curve, load-carrying and ductility coefficient, damping and energy dissipation, stiffness degradation as well as mate...