HSM: a synthetic damage-constrained seismic hazard parameter

Abstract

A comprehensive treatment of seismic risk requires a reliable seismic hazard assessment. For this purpose, authors propose here the application of a synthetic damage-constrained parameter (named as HSM) which establishes, in three chosen vibration period ranges of engineering interest, an absolute ranking of seismic hazard. It includes the regional seismic hazard and the amplification due to the geological and geophysical setting of such areas of the Italian territory where the results of seismic microzonation studies are available. The purpose behind the application of this new parameter is providing new elements for effective implementation of seismic risk prevention and mitigation policies. In particular, a methodology is defined for individuating the thresholds values of the HSM parameter that classify the territory according to an increasing hazard scale, coupling with a theoretical expected average damage. In order to enhance the robustness of this methodology, a tempt of validation using experimental data is described in Appendix 1. The aforementioned scale of representation is applied on the dataset of the seismic microzonation studies conducted in 137 municipalities in Central Italy after the Mw 6.0 earthquake of 24 August 2016, providing for these centers realistic estimates of the overall seismic hazard. As future perspectives, it is shown how the inclusion of this parameter in urban planning and seismic design may help reaching different outcomes. In particular, in this paper it is discussed the effective contribution of HSM at: (i) helping decision makers to highlight priority intervention areas; (ii) defining best practices for existing structures, such as specific response studies, where higher overall seismic hazard values are expected.