Assessing seismic vulnerability of modular buildings under earthquake ground motions

authored by: S. Elias, M. Beer, J. Chen
Abstract: In earthquake-prone regions like Iceland, where an average of 500 earthquakes occurs weekly, modular buildings constructed according to EU standards encounter significant seismic challenges. This study investigates the seismic performance of nonlinear modular building models under both near-field pulse-type ground motions and fully non-stationary non-pulse-like stochastic ground motions, generated through Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) and Latinized Partially Stratified Sampling (LPSS) methods. Key structural response parameters, including inter-story drift, base shear, and acceleration, are analyzed, with their probability distribution functions (PDFs) and fragility functions evaluated against industry-standard limit states, such as those defined by FEMA. Results reveal that pulse-type ground motions, characterized by large, high-velocity pulses, result in a higher probability of failure, especially in the width direction, compared to non-pulse-like stochastic ground motions. The top floor exhibits greater vulnerability under seismic forces, underscoring the need for focused structural reinforcement. The findings highlight the importance of considering both pulse-type and non-pulse-like stochastic ground motions in structural design practices and seismic codes to enhance the resilience and safety of modular buildings in earthquake-prone areas. This study contributes to the seismic engineering field by providing insights into the vulnerability and robustness of modular structures under diverse seismic loading conditions.
Organisation(s): Institute for Risk and Reliability
External Organisation(s): University of Liverpool
Tongji University
Type: Article
Journal: Engineering structures
Volume: 331
No. of pages: 15
ISSN: 0141-0296
Publication date: 15.05.2025
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Civil and Structural Engineering
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120002 (Access: Open)