SEISMIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDINGS USING PERFORMANCE-BASED DESIGN

Abstract

Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) has emerged as a robust framework for evaluating and improving the seismic performance of reinforced concrete buildings by explicitly linking seismic hazard, structural response, and performance objectives. This study presents a comprehensive performance-based seismic assessment of reinforced concrete buildings subjected to multiple earthquake hazard levels. Nonlinear structural response is evaluated using peak and residual interstory drift ratios as primary engineering demand parameters, enabling systematic classification of structural performance in terms of Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety, and Collapse Prevention. Analytical results are mapped to ASCE 41–style drift acceptance criteria to provide a transparent interpretation of performance intent. The study further extends traditional performance evaluation by incorporating probabilistic exceedance assessment and consequence-based metrics, including repair cost ratio and post-earthquake downtime. Results demonstrate that while the majority of analysed cases satisfy Immediate Occupancy objectives at lower hazard levels, increasing seismic intensity leads to a measurable shift toward Life Safety performance, accompanied by significant increases in economic loss and recovery time. Residual drift is identified as a key driver of prolonged downtime, highlighting its importance in resilience-oriented seismic design. Overall, the proposed framework integrates structural performance, probabilistic assessment, and consequence evaluation, offering a practical and decision-oriented methodology for performance-based seismic assessment of reinforced concrete buildings.