A Seismic Vulnerability of Current RC Buildings Using N2 Method and Incremental Dynamic Analysis, with an Adaptation to the Revised Moroccan Seismic Code

Abstract

In the last hundred years (1923-2023), Morocco has experienced several destructive earthquakes. For example, the 1960 earthquake in Agadir and the significant seismic event occurred in Al-Houaz on 08 September 2023. In order to be better prepared for any eventual seismic risk, it is necessary to prepare a reliable assessment procedure for the seismic performance and vulnerability of existing buildings in high-risk seismic zones. In this context, this article presents a mixed procedure that uses the N2 non-linear static method and the Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) with a set of ground motion data and considering the provisions of the revised Moroccan Seismic Code 2011. In order to illustrate the adaptation of this procedure, a study has been carried out on an existing reinforced concrete building with a moderate level of earthquake-resistant design, located in the Moroccan high-seismic-risk zone. The results of damage distribution and mode of destruction obtained by the N2 method are rather similar to the IDA analysis ones. The fragility curves derived from this procedure can be used to evaluate more precisely the seismic vulnerability for all RC buildings of vulnerability class D. Moreover, this procedure can be applied practically to any building by knowing its fundamental vibration period and the peak ground acceleration as a seismic hazard parameter.