Nonlinear MDOF Models for Earthquake Disaster Simulation of Urban Buildings

Abstract

The lessons learned from the previous earthquakes in the world prove that an accurate prediction of the seismic damage is critical to reduce the earthquake-induced losses. For a modern city associated with metropolitan and urban areas, a devastating earthquake may potentially cause damage to buildings, transportations, and lifelines. Of which, the vast majority of seismic losses are caused by the damage and collapse of building structures. For this reason, an accurate and efficient seismic simulation of buildings becomes an indispensable part of urban seismic prediction research worldwide.