A methodology for evaluating seismic capacity and seismic risk assessment of reinforced concrete buildings in Korea

The purpose of this study was to propose a method for evaluating the seismic capacity of existing RC buildings in Korea by reviewing the applicability of the Japanese Standard. Based on the seismic capacity of Korean buildings evaluated by this standard, we modified the basic structural index, which is calculated in terms of the ultimate horizontal strength and ductility. We compared our experiment results to the values calculated using the strength equations for columns and walls from the Japanese Standard. The flexural strength equations could be applied without modification, while the shear strength equations required modification. We evaluated these modified strength equations and proposed unit average shear stresses of columns and walls based on statistical data relating to the structural characteristics of Korean buildings. The values of the ductility indices, which are primarily calculated based on the shear-to-flexural capacity ratio, of Korean buildings with hoop spacing wider than 300 mm, as computed by the proposed method, were more reasonable than those calculated by the Japanese Standard. We believe that the proposed method provides a useful strategy for identifying Korean buildings that are vulnerable to seismic activity, and recommend urgent earthquake preparedness measures.