Seismic Fragility Assessment of RC Building Using HAZUS Methodology and Incremental Dynamic Analysis

The technique of coupled building strategy is more viable to protect the adjacent buildings of dissimilar in characteristics against seismic hazards. The philosophy of coupled building control in which adjacent buildings are allowed to exerts counter-acting forces one upon another. This study includes the seismic performance of various Coupled Buildings with respect to Uncoupled Buildings for which two models of Coupled Building are considered that is, first one is the two-shear type adjacent buildings connected in-line with MR dampers and second one is same as first with taller building is isolated by Resilient-Friction Base Isolator at its foundation. The seismic response analysis of RC coupled buildings are studied in terms of peak responses subjected to unidirectional excitation due to Kobe 1995 earthquake. The governing equation of motion of various coupled buildings is solved numerically by Newmark’s step-by-step method. The dynamic behaviour of semiactive MR damper and R-FBI base isolation system has been predicted by modified Bouc-Wen model and Wen’s model respectively. This study employed the Lyapunov direct approach as a control algorithm for the stability analysis and design of semiactive MR controller. The responses of various coupled buildings and uncoupled buildings are simulated through MATLABâ computing software. This study outlined that model of Coupled Building-2 performs more effective in controlling the seismic responses whereas model of Coupled Building-1 performs well not only in reducing the responses but also avoid pounding from the adjacent buildings. Further, there is significant reduction in responses of taller building isolated by base isolation system whereas marginal reduction takes place in shorter building which is not isolated.