engleski

Seismic vulnerability assessment of small rural areas in Eastern Croatia

Data on social and economic losses from earthquakes so far show that the most frequent and greatest losses are those caused by damage and collapse of buildings. Assessment of earthquake hazard, analysis of exposed physical and social values, and estimation of seismic vulnerability are all parts of the earthquake risk assessment process. In addition to the model of possible earthquake hazards, the basis for risk assessment for an observed area is the existence of an exposure model. Rural settlements are an important part of the cultural heritage because of their natural, historical and traditional values. Usually, there are significant differences in buildings built in rural areas, depending on preferred or locally available building materials, climatic conditions, traditions, as well as owners' income levels and social habits. In different regions of Croatia, there is also a variety of rural housing types. In Slavonia and Baranya, the process of gathering settlements and stabilizing the population began after the liberation from the Turks in the mid-18th century. Villages are grouped around earlier settlements along existing or newly built roads. Planned settlements are created with several streets properly arranged in relation to the main road. The villages of Eastern Croatia (Slavonia and Baranya) are areas of traditional construction of residential and farm buildings. Even today, in some villages, there are old houses built of stuffed clay masonry (clay mixed with water and as a conglomerate, then poured into wooden modulus and stuffed) ; wooden framing masonry (a wooden frame and stuffed clay or unbaked bricks), or adobe. Since the mid-19th century houses were built of unbaked and later baked bricks, but today, due to seismic regulations, the most common type is confined masonry. The paper will attempt to present an exposure model for small rural areas in eastern Croatia. The exposure model shows structural characteristics, which include information of lateral load resistance system, materials, number of stories, average built area, and population. The location and distribution of buildings are presented using the Geographic information system. The classification of building stock is made according to a set of building classes that indicate the structural characteristics and expected performance under seismic action. A brief overview of existing classifications is conducted as well in order to identify predominant building classes. Thus, based on all the available information, the seismic vulnerability of the buildings is assessed for a given level of seismic hazard. Using one of the common vulnerability methods, the obtained results in terms of the expected degree of damage are presented using a Geographic information system.

seismic vulnerability assessment ; rural areas ; classification of buildings ; exposure model

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