Seismic risk evaluation of existing buildings using computer simulation

A methodology to simulate the seismic damage of non-reinforced masonry buildings existing in a urban zone is presented. The methodology is based on the Italian vulnerability index and on the results of a post-earthquake damage survey study. The Monte Carlo Method has been then used to simulate damage probability matrices and vulnerability functions, which are the basis of any seismic risk study. The simulation process required the generation of thousands of hypothetical buildings, the analysis of their seismic behaviour and probabilistic studies of the computed results. As an example, probable damage scenarios have been developed for an urban zone of Barcelona.