Parameter-based seismic vulnerability assessment of Mexican historical buildings

Abstract

The seismic vulnerability assessment of large sets of constructions is meaningful for anticipating post-earthquake scenarios in the context of loss prevention and resilience. These activities must overcome several difficulties related to the size and heterogeneity of the building stock, becoming even more complex when addressed to historical and vernacular structures. The analysis of post-earthquake data has permitted the design of vulnerability assessment methods based on the identification of parameters related to the geometrical, structural and material features that rule the seismic behaviour of different typologies. A dataset of information about the 2017 Earthquakes in Mexico is used to discuss the suitability of a pre-established seismic vulnerability index approach. The compatibility between this approach and the information contained in the National Catalogue of Historical Monuments is the departure point for estimating levels of damage, which are then compared with those recorded in 2017. This implementation requires a series of adaptations and strategies, including the adjustment of the description of the parameters for the Mexican context and the development of a strategy for considering the uncertainty when the information is limited, offering an alternative more conservative output. Based on the results of the comparison between the levels of damage estimated using the vulnerability index approach adopted in this paper and those recorded in the aftermath of the 2017 Earthquakes in Mexico, it is plausible to confirm that this approach can be used in future seismic vulnerability assessment works in this region, provided that the limitations identified and discussed here are considered.