Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Fragility Analysis of Pre-Code Masonry Buildings in Portugal

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Fragility Analysis of Pre-Code Masonry Buildings in Portugal | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Fragility Analysis of Pre-Code Masonry Buildings in Portugal Vasco Bernardo, Alfredo Campos Costa, Paulo Candeias, Aníbal Costa This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-476957/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Despite the fact that in recent years Portugal has not seen the occurrence of high-magnitude earthquakes, it remains threatened by these events due to its geographic location. Since the 1960s, reinforced concrete has been the most used material for new constructions, however the historic urban centers are dominated by old unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings which techniques and construction materials have evolved since the Great Lisbon earthquake that occurred in 1755 with a magnitude around 8.5. Given the presence of these buildings in areas of significant seismicity, a comprehensive research is needed to assess the seismic risk and define mitigation policies. This kind of studies are often supported by empirical methods and based on expert judgment due to the high variability of the building stock and lack of information. The main purpose of this work is: i) to provide analytical fragility curves, supported by nonlinear static analysis, for the entire population of old masonry buildings, built before the introduction of the first design code for building safety against earthquakes (RSSCS) in 1958; ii) define vulnerability curves to be used by the technical community for seismic risk assessment of pre code URM buildings. The characterization of the building stock geometry and material properties is based on the previous information collected, which was useful to define representative archetypes and typologies. Geophysics Civil Engineering Seismology pre-code masonry buildings fragility analysis seismic vulnerability assessment seismic safety Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Figure 14 Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17 Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 16 May, 2021 Reviewers invited by journal 15 May, 2021 Editor invited by journal 29 Apr, 2021 Editor assigned by journal 28 Apr, 2021 First submitted to journal 28 Apr, 2021 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-476957","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":27335024,"identity":"11104f0e-803a-4479-a450-e57387bac6e4","order_by":0,"name":"Vasco Bernardo","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDACCQjF2MDe3ECqFp6DEC08xGuRSCRSi8Ht5mOfC2ruyfZLPmx78KGGIc+eoJY7x5JnzzhWbDxzdmK74YxjDMUEbZGckWPMzMOWkLjhdmKbNG8DQ2IPYS35n5l5/gG13DzYJv2XGC38EjnMzLxtQC03GNukGYnSInPMmJm3L8F4Zk9im2TPMYlingMEtLBJNz9m5vmWINvPfviYxI8amzz2BkLWoAGJBBI1AAEZWkbBKBgFo2C4AwDuND0wFya8AwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5071-8155","institution":"National Laboratory of Civil Engineering: Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil","correspondingAuthor":true,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vasco","middleName":"","lastName":"Bernardo","suffix":""},{"id":27335025,"identity":"c725745a-a4cf-421e-9303-0181751f6306","order_by":1,"name":"Alfredo Campos Costa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Alfredo","middleName":"Campos","lastName":"Costa","suffix":""},{"id":27335026,"identity":"9c323e5b-4785-45db-a701-fa473836621f","order_by":2,"name":"Paulo Candeias","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Paulo","middleName":"","lastName":"Candeias","suffix":""},{"id":27335027,"identity":"59c95c62-3980-463f-9e86-bf18dd1f4283","order_by":3,"name":"Aníbal Costa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidade de Aveiro Departamento de Engenharia Civil","correspondingAuthor":false,"submittingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Aníbal","middleName":"","lastName":"Costa","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2021-04-29 07:37:43","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-476957/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-476957/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":9317065,"identity":"349eaeed-40ea-41d8-82f8-fc127230b1d6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:58:53","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":691997,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Main features of old masonry buildings","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/cc70a5b9870b112f8381cf3d.png"},{"id":9317285,"identity":"5da5c7c3-e306-47de-95b9-a129f763d4b2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 22:04:55","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":190490,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Archetypes adopted to represent the population of old masonry buildings in Portugal","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/4813db20ccaeeac50d7fc1cf.png"},{"id":9317069,"identity":"de58c393-d647-4c12-942b-fa01bce93203","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:58:54","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":195184,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Mechanical properties generated: a) compressive strength; 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b) seismic zonings I and II ¬ interplate scenario and intraplate scenario, respectively (CEN 2004)\nNote: The designations employed and the presentation of the material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Research Square concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This map has been provided by the authors.","description":"","filename":"6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/db0cb31111920f894f30c4fd.png"},{"id":9316957,"identity":"c85b7a00-0b1b-4072-94a1-dbb2adc72ada","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:55:55","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":483055,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Median values for maximum spectral acceleration (top row) and interstorey drift (bottom row)","description":"","filename":"7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/17be23292102a8768e25efdd.png"},{"id":9317284,"identity":"acd7a6a8-99b5-4847-976d-b03ba8c9aff1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 22:04:54","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":859445,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Capacity curves for archetypes A1, A3, B2, C1, and C3, with 3, 4 and 5 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archetype B2 and type I-rigid typology, considering 308-years return period, soil type B and all seismic zones defined for Portugal","description":"","filename":"10.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/629da2e03451ba8b850dcdb5.png"},{"id":9316956,"identity":"d748ca83-78b8-422d-8a4b-7be5f17d9ec5","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:55:55","extension":"png","order_by":11,"title":"Figure 11","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":71437,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Seismic response in terms of interstorey drift for buildings with four stories high, 308-years return period, soil type B and seismic zone 1.3","description":"","filename":"11.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/8537e279d2d6c91407d2cafd.png"},{"id":9316946,"identity":"6a2279df-0550-47a6-a734-6184c0eda74e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:55:54","extension":"png","order_by":12,"title":"Figure 12","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":62059,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Seismic response in terms of interstorey drift for buildings with four stories high, 308-years return period, soil type B and seismic zone 2.3","description":"","filename":"12.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/3e4ccd97aa173ae2f749ff82.png"},{"id":9317067,"identity":"ec80c809-84b2-4afc-a467-05edfec792c4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:58:54","extension":"png","order_by":13,"title":"Figure 13","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":485993,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Fragility curves for archetypes grouped by number of floors, typology and type of floor (rigid and flexible)","description":"","filename":"13.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/5e2e6489a5f8b38591982020.png"},{"id":9317072,"identity":"da5486a8-867d-4619-8cea-36be13d42d1c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:58:54","extension":"png","order_by":14,"title":"Figure 14","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":101683,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Mean values and dispersion proposed to characterize the fragility by number of floors and typology","description":"","filename":"14.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/37c946388703ee64d9206a2c.png"},{"id":9316948,"identity":"346f627f-2f67-4bbd-995b-ae9f0cbf136f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 21:55:54","extension":"png","order_by":15,"title":"Figure 15","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":188926,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"Vulnerability curves archetypes grouped, four stories high, soil type B and seismic zone 1.3","description":"","filename":"15.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-476957/v1/291bbd341fdd878fbd4b8a8c.png"},{"id":9317239,"identity":"165c3688-37cd-4e39-92e6-b15536023fdc","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2021-05-18 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PDF\u003c/a\u003e."}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bulletin-of-earthquake-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"beee","sideBox":"Learn more about [Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/10518)","snPcode":"10518","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10518/3","title":"Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"pre-code masonry buildings, fragility analysis, seismic vulnerability assessment, seismic safety","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-476957/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-476957/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"Despite the fact that in recent years Portugal has not seen the occurrence of high-magnitude earthquakes, it remains threatened by these events due to its geographic location. Since the 1960s, reinforced concrete has been the most used material for new constructions, however the historic urban centers are dominated by old unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings which techniques and construction materials have evolved since the Great Lisbon earthquake that occurred in 1755 with a magnitude around 8.5. Given the presence of these buildings in areas of significant seismicity, a comprehensive research is needed to assess the seismic risk and define mitigation policies. This kind of studies are often supported by empirical methods and based on expert judgment due to the high variability of the building stock and lack of information. 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The characterization of the building stock geometry and material properties is based on the previous information collected, which was useful to define representative archetypes and typologies.","manuscriptTitle":"Seismic Vulnerability Assessment and Fragility Analysis of Pre-Code Masonry Buildings in Portugal","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2021-05-18 21:55:51","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-476957/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2021-05-16T04:46:00+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2021-05-15T17:56:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering","date":"2021-04-30T00:00:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2021-04-29T00:00:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering","date":"2021-04-28T13:35:35+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bulletin-of-earthquake-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"beee","sideBox":"Learn more about [Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/10518)","snPcode":"10518","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10518/3","title":"Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"3c483f07-9bb5-4668-943f-32a3afb0e399","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 18th, 2021","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":4412994,"name":"Geophysics"},{"id":4412995,"name":"Civil Engineering"},{"id":4412996,"name":"Seismology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2022-05-23T04:45:20+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2021-05-18 21:55:51","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-476957","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-476957","identity":"rs-476957","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"FbvkV6FR0MCFSLy54lSbu","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}