Seismic vulnerability analysis of moderate seismicity areas using in situ experimental techniques: from the building to the city scale – Application to Grenoble and Pointe-à-Pitre (France)

Seismic vulnerability analysis of existing buildings requires basic information on their structural behaviour. The ambient vibrations of buildings and the modal parameters (frequencies, damping ration and modal shapes) that can be extracted from them naturally include the geometry and quality of material in the linear elastic part of their behaviour. The aim of this work is to use this modal information to help the vulnerability assessment. A linear dynamic modal model based on experimental modal parameters is proposed and the fragility curve corresponding to the damage state “Slight” is build using this model and a simple formula is proposed. This curve is particularly interesting in moderate seismic areas. This methodology is applied to the Grenoble City where ambient vibrations have been recorded in 61 buildings of various types and to the Pointe-a-Pitre City with 7 study-buildings. The fragility curves are developed using the aforementioned methodology. The seismic risk of the study-buildings is discussed by performing seismic scenarios. Seismic Risk 2008 - Earthquakes in North-Western Europe