Rapid probabilistic loss assessment of buildings based on post-earthquake structural deformation conditions

A rapid probabilistic seismic loss (e.g., repair time and repair cost) assessment methodology for building structures is developed based on radio frequency identification (RFID) based wireless deformation sensors. The sensors can detect whether the multiple preset tensile deformation thresholds of structural components are exceeded, and the structural deformation data are recorded in RFID tags. Then, the RIFD tags are scanned and the deformations are collected by an RFID interrogator, carried into the damaged building after earthquakes, without requirement of removals of coverings such as drywall. The sensors provide valuable deformation information that can be utilized to estimate the probability distributions of repair time (RT) and repair cost (RC) of the building. In this paper, a seismic loss assessment methodology that combines the FEMA P-58 fragility database with Bayes' theorem is proposed to exploit the information provided by the RFID sensors. The assessment is rapid because dynamic response analysis is not required in the post-earthquake phase. The feasibility of the technique is examined using a tension-only concentrically braced steel beam-through frame. The accuracy of the technique is tested by an alternative method. The uncertainties for seismic loss assessment are significantly reduced owing to the available deformation condition information.