Proposal for new values of behaviour modifiers for seismic vulnerability evaluation of reinforced concrete buildings applied to Lorca (Spain) using damage data from the 2011 earthquake

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. This paper proposes a modification of the empirical method for seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete buildings in urban areas. In the RISK-UE LM1 framework, the values of the behaviour modifiers related to: (i) the level of seismic code design; (ii) the number of storeys above ground; and (iii) the structural joint between adjoining buildings, have been modified according to an analysis of the actual seismic performance of buildings and a review of the currently available models, providing continuity to the progress of the previous works published to date. The new model has been applied to the city of Lorca, Spain following the damage data from the earthquake of May 11, 2011. Less dispersion between actual observed and estimated damage in buildings is presented in comparison with the previous studies, with a statistical significance level of 5%, thus achieving a more accurate evaluation of seismic risk based on the typological, structural and urban parameters of the buildings. Nevertheless, future work to further improve these modifiers is necessary in order to achieve a better adjustment between the estimated and observed damage. By using GIS techniques, the proposal can also be used to develop the planning and management of post-earthquake emergency situations, allowing for a better definition of several damage scenarios.