Prem Nath Maskey, Professor
Department of Civil Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Institute of Engineering,
Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Abstract:
Traditional unreinforced masonry buildings of the Kathmandu Valley possess unique
character with geometry and style. Seismic vulnerability of these structures needs
assessment to mitigate the seismic risk of the region. A typical area Byasi of Bhaktapur
Municipality is selected for the assessment. The vulnerability assessment of the buildings
was carried out by the Rapid Visual Screening methods (FEMA 154, EMS 98) for the total
147 number of the surveyed buildings. Five buildings representing 147 traditional
unreinforced brick masonry buildings were selected for vigorous structural analysis. The
selection of the representative buildings were done on the basis of opening percentage,
number of stories and the type of floor. The buildings were analyzed by time history
analysis. The seismic fragility curves of the 5 masonry buildings are for 4 different damage
states: slight, moderate, extensive and collapse. The analysis results from both methods
are compared. One of the major conclusions is the probability of failure, in general, is
different for different 5 types of the masonry buildings, and indicates the state of
vulnerability different from the same obtained from the empirical methods. However the
fragility analysis results show the need for consideration of the local conditions of Nepal to
be duly incorporated in the seismic vulnerability assessment.
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