Select. FC: methodology, calibration, app and database to assess and select fragility curves for seismis risk studies

Resumen

Fragility curves (FCs) are crucial for evaluating structural performance against seismic risks, depicting the probability of damage at varying hazard levels. Using appropriate FCs is essential to ensure accurate damage and loss calculations for specific construction types. This study introduces "Select.FC", a methodology featuring a multidimensional index to assess and select the most suitable FCs from existing literature. The index evaluates various variables, assigning scores to each, and ranks FCs from A to F based on their suitability, simplifying result interpretation and enhancing reliability. The evaluation dimensions include technical suitability, local system compatibility, and similarity between candidate and target building types, encompassing 15 variables. Technical suitability is inherent to the FC and the most time-consuming, assessing variables inherent to FCs, while the other two dimensions depend on specific construction features. The methodology's scores were calibrated using the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process applied to expert survey results, involving 30 international professionals. Additionally, herein is made public a free online application, "Select.FC", with a database of over 50 evaluated FCs which implements the said methodology. The App permits the evaluation of all the FCs included in the database for the specific typology of the area under study and obtaining of the class of adequacy. A QR code for accessing to the App is provided. Future work will expand the FC database with more pre-assessed technical suitability dimensions and allows users to input and classify their own FCs.