Using experimental data to reduce the single-building sigma of fragility curves: case study of the BRD tower in Bucharest, Romania

The lack of knowledge concerning modelling existing buildings leads to significant variability in fragility curves for single or grouped existing buildings. This paper aims to investigate the uncertainties of fragility curves, with special consideration of the single-building sigma. Experimental data and simplified models are applied to the BRD tower in Bucharest (Romania), a RC building with permanent instrumentation. A 3-step methodology is applied, (1) adjustment of a linear MDOF model for experimental modal analysis using a Timoshenko beam model and based on Anderson’s criteria, (2) computation of the structure’s response to a large set of accelerograms simulated by SIMQKE software, considering twelve ground motion parameters as intensity measurements (IM), and (3) construction of the fragility curves by comparing numerical inter-storey drift with the threshold criteria provided by the Hazus methodology for the slight damage state. By introducing experimental data into the model, uncertainty is reduced to 0.02 considering Sd(f1) as seismic intensity IM and uncertainty related to the model is assessed at 0.03. These values must be compared with the total uncertainty value of around 0.7 provided by the Hazus methodology