| Abstract: | The evaluation of the seismic damageability of existing buildings is a primary element in the planning for mitigation of earthquake effects. To this purpose, the use of the vulnerability index has been recently proposed and adopted in various surveys in Italy. The index results from grading the status of various structural and non-structural components exposed to damage in a seismic event. The effectiveness of the vulnerability index as a measure of the health status of buildings is discussed on the basis of regional surveys of vulnerability index versus reported damage, carried out in various Italian areas such as Friuli and the city of Gubbio. Also, investigation of the items most effective in describing damageability among those contributing to the index is performed, in view of formulating a reduced survey procedure. A damage versus vulnerability index database collected in these surveys is presented as well. Finally, a vulnerability index based procedure to evaluate the expected damage in a territory is proposed. |
