On the Use of Accelerometric Data to Monitor the Seismic Performance of Non-Structural Elements in Existing Buildings: A Case Study

Monitoring of non-structural elements is not usually implemented, despite the seismic vulnerability of these components and the significant cost associated with their replacement in case of damage. By exploiting the limited cost of commercial sensors, accelerometers were installed in an existing building to compare accelerations applied to non-structural elements in case of an earthquake with critical acceleration thresholds. The exceedance of these thresholds would indicate a possible danger for the occupants and the need for a more detailed inspection of the element, guiding prioritisation strategies in the aftermath of the earthquake. Furthermore, the real-time probabilistic assessment of potential damage to non-structural elements can serve to identify escape routes and facilitate rescue operations. Critical acceleration thresholds were defined from probabilistic considerations on the expected seismic performance of each typology of non-structural element, described by appropriately selected fragility curves. The feasibility of the proposed procedure was tested by comparing the identified acceleration thresholds with the design values of floor acceleration provided by the Italian Building Code. As a further application, critical acceleration values of the different non-structural elements were compared with a set of real floor acceleration values recorded at the top level of reinforced concrete buildings, highlighting critical non-structural element typologies.

Automated summary

Despite their seismic vulnerability and high replacement costs, non-structural elements are often not monitored. An experiment was conducted in an existing building where accelerometers were installed to compare accelerations applied to these elements during an earthquake with critical acceleration thresholds. This real-time assessment can help identify possible dangers and guide prioritization strategies in the aftermath of an earthquake.