Title: A seismological and engineering perspective on the 2016 Central Italy earthquakes

Authors: Marco Fasan; Andrea Magrin; Claudio Amadio; Fabio Romanelli; Franco Vaccari; Giuliano F. Panza

Addresses: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa, 1, Trieste I-34127, Italy ' Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via E. Weiss, 4 Pal. P, Trieste I-34128, Italy; OGS – Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Dip. C.R.S., Via Treviso, 55, Udine I-33100, Italy ' Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa, 1, Trieste I-34127, Italy ' Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via E. Weiss, 4 Pal. P, Trieste I-34128, Italy ' Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via E. Weiss, 4 Pal. P, Trieste I-34128, Italy ' Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via E. Weiss, 4 Pal. P, Trieste I-34128, Italy; Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, China; International Seismic Safety Organization (ISSO), Viale San Francesco, 12, I-64031 Arsita (TE), Italy; Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Palazzo Corsini – Via della Lungara, 10 – 00165 Roma, Italy

Abstract: The strong earthquake (M 6.0-6.2) that hit the central Apennines on August 24, 2016, occurred in one of the most seismically active areas in Italy. Field surveys indicated severe damage in the epicentral area where, in addition to the loss of human life, widespread destruction of cultural heritage and of critical buildings occurred. Using the neo-deterministic seismic hazard assessment (NDSHA), we apply the maximum deterministic seismic input (MDSI) procedure at two of the most relevant sites in the epicentral area, comparing the results with the current Italian building code. After performing an expeditious engineering analysis, we interpret as a possible cause of the reported damages the high seismic vulnerability of the built environment, combined with the source and site effects characterising the seismic input. Therefore, it is important to design and retrofit with appropriate spectral acceleration levels compatible with the possible future scenarios, like the ones provided by MDSI.

Keywords: seismic hazards; response spectrum; neo-deterministic seismic hazard assessment; NDSHA; maximum deterministic seismic input; MDSI; seismic design; Italy; earthquakes; Apennines; building codes; seismic vulnerability; spectral acceleration levels; structural design; building retrofitting; structural damage; seismic response.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIE.2016.083253

International Journal of Earthquake and Impact Engineering, 2016 Vol.1 No.4, pp.395 - 420

Received: 27 Oct 2016
Accepted: 29 Nov 2016
Published online: 22 Mar 2017 *

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