This paper provides data and information on Beirut Arab University׳s existing old building in Lebanon. The building was primarily designed to resist gravity loads only, with no attention to seismic or lateral load effects. The data shows that there is a need to improve the conditions of the existing old building by applying new features that function as seismic capacity resistance. The first feature was applied by adding RC-shear walls to the existing building, and the second feature was by implementing concentric steel bracing at the peripheral face of the building. In this article, a set of critical parameters to identify the seismic design of buildings was associated in this data. The parameters were described in terms of dynamic properties as follows: (a) natural fundamental period, (b) mode shapes, (c) torsional irregularity, (d) stiffness and ductility, and (e) plastic hinges formation. Particularly, the estimated cost analysis of added materials plays an important role in choosing the suitable retrofitting technique for old buildings.
This paper presents a simplified method in the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings based on proposed seismic vulnerability index (SVI) methodology. The employed procedure is derived with some modifications from the Italian GNDT and the European Macro-seismic approaches. Eight parameters were modeled in three distinct vulnerability classes to estimate the vulnerability indices of RC structures. The vulnerability classes were categorized based on the earthquake resistant design (ERD) defined as; (Low, Moderate, and High)-ERDs. Nonlinear time history analysis (NL-THA) and nonlinear static analysis (NL-SA) were carried out to define the weight of each parameter in order to calculate the seismic vulnerability index in a specific intensity (PGA) of an earthquake event. Knowing that it ranges from 0 to 1 from less vulnerable to most vulnerable with respect to the seismic intensity. In addition, the engineering demand parameter (EDP) used to determine the vulnerability index as the maximum top displacement of the structure. After determining the (SVI), The mean damage states were developed to evaluate the estimated physical damage of buildings in distinct seismic intensities. •This simplified methodology helps to manage and implements strategies for the safety of the communities before earthquake takes place by investigating the vulnerability classes for each building type.•Modeling the parameters that have an influence on the structural behavior without considering the past-damages observations through an analytical approach.•Developing the seismic vulnerability index can reduce or limit the role of the rapid visual screening methods, which is based on expert opinion decisions, and depends on observations of damages caused by earthquakes, and can be a useful framework criterion in earthquake filed.
Over the last decade, the notion of community resilience, which encompasses planning for, opposing, absorbing, and quickly recovering from disruptive occurrences, has gained momentum across the world. Critical Infrastructures (CI) are seen as critical to attaining success in today's densely populated countries. Such infrastructures must be robust in the face of multi-hazard catastrophes by implementing appropriate disaster management and recovery plans. Given these facts, it is critical to establish a new methodological perspective with an integrated system for effective disaster management of CI, as well as an intelligent application that will aid in the construction of more resilient and sustainable cities and communities. This perspective proposes a holistic gaming scenario application for assessing the vulnerability and accessibility of critical infrastructures during multi-hazard events, with a primary focus on conducting an integrated assessment for critical infrastructures and their assets. Mainly, the perspective includes a holistic gaming scenario application that will aid in accurately quantifying geographical spatial information and integrating big data into predictive and prescriptive management tools using virtual reality.•Conducting Integrated Assessment Models for evaluating vulnerability of Critical Infrastructures.•Inducing Digital Technologies during Multi-Hazard Incidents for improving Natural hazard assessment models.•Developing an open-world gaming scenario that is considered with high visual motion pictures and scenes.