Development of a Seismic Assessment Tool Modern Reinforced Masonry in Costa Rica

Resumen

The objective of this study is to validate a rapid assessment tool to evaluate the seismic behaviour of partially grouted reinforced concrete masonry (PG-RCM) dwellings in Costa Rica during the design phase. Since 1974, Costa Rica has had its own Technical Seismic Code, which includes a seismic-resistant design. This research analyses the feasibility and adaptation of a simplified methodology, originally developed in Italy to assess the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete or unreinforced masonry buildings, to the Costa Rican context. To accomplish this, 26 PG-RCM dwelling projects approved by the Federated College of Technical Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica (CFIA) between 2014 and 2022 were randomly selected and analysed. Five of these projects were simulated by numerical models according to the equivalent frame approach within the 3Muri software. The models were calibrated with previous laboratory tests on PG-RCM walls. The seismic vulnerability estimated with the simplified methodology was then validated by comparison with the capacity obtained from numerical models. The results of this study contribute to decision-making during the initial stages of the projects, possibly leading to a reduction of seismic vulnerability of the most common construction systems in Costa Rica. In conclusion, the implementation of the simplified methodology in the design stages of PG-RCM dwellings can be a useful tool for the identification of the vulnerabilities of buildings in Costa Rica and it can provide technical assistance to designers, helping them in guaranteeing the seismic resistance of dwellings and the safety of their occupants