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Earthquakes are one of the most destructive natural disasters, they can cause significant damage to built-up structures, profoundly altering the urban and social fabric. The force of these seismic events can provoke damage ranging from slight cracks in the foundations and walls to collapses of entire buildings, endangering the lives and safety of residents. <\/p>\n
When an earthquake occurs, seismic waves propagate through the soil, causing the shaking of the ground. This movement is transferred to buildings, that start vibrating too. Each building has its own natural vibration frequency, influenced by height and structural characteristics. In general, lower buildings have higher natural frequencies, while higher buildings have lower natural frequencies. If the frequency of the seismic waves coincides with the natural frequency of the building, the phenomenon of resonance can occur, amplifying the oscillations and increasing the risk of structural damage. <\/p>\n
The damage to buildings caused by an earthquake can be classified into two main categories: structural damage <\/strong>and non-structural damage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Structural damage:<\/strong> it concerns the supporting elements of the building, such as pillars, beams and load-bearing walls. This damage can compromise the stability of the entire structure, leading in some cases to the total collapse of the building. For example, the formation of a “soft floor” occurs when one floor of the building has significantly lower stiffness than the others, often due to large windows or open spaces on the ground floor, making it more vulnerable during an earthquake. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n Non-structural damage<\/strong>: this type of damage affects elements such as external claddings, internal partitions, suspended ceilings and installations. During an earthquake, the deformation of the structure can cause these components to break or detach. For example, external buffers, often consisting of “box” walls with an air chamber for thermal insulation, can be damaged or collapse, posing a serious danger to the occupants. In addition, the “bursting” of the ceiling, ie the collapse of portions of the ceiling such as plaster or bricks, is another typical damage caused by the earthquake. <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The seismic vulnerability of a building depends on several factors:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
Factors affecting the seismic vulnerability of buildings<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
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ISAAC AMD system<\/strong> for reducing seismic vulnerability<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n