Seismic loss Assessment Framework for RC high-rise wall buildings: Dubai case study

A complete Seismic Loss Assessment Framework for code compliant, RC high-rise buildings in medium-seismicity regions exposed to different earthquake scenarios is proposed. Dubai (UAE) is taken as a case study. Studied exposure is represented by reference structures which are categorized based on height, floor layout and lateral forces-resisting systems. The main scientific challenge is to assess the behavior and vulnerability of RC high-rise buildings with shear walls. The commonly used approach of modeling shear walls with 2-noded frame element as well as more sophisticated analytical approaches is investigated. Soil effect on nonlinear response of reference structures is studied. Calibration of the analytical tools and models is conducted by using results from full-scale tests. Large number of input ground motions are selected to reflect the anticipated earthquake scenarios of the studied area. Incremental Dynamic Analyses is curried out to identify the performance limit states and to derive vulnerability relationships to define seismic risk on building inventory. Seismic loss assessment is to be conducted by correlating the risk with direct economic losses via loss model. The results confirmed the pressing need for reliable fragility relationships to represent RC high-rise wall structures based on enhanced and verified modeling approaches.