Application of Capacity Spectrum for Assessing Earthquake Casualties Caused by Buildings Damage
Mao Lıu · Zhongguo anquan kexue xuebao · 2011
This article attempts to establish a capacity-spectrum-based assessment method so as to accurately estimate the casualties caused by earthquake and to improve the disaster protection and emergency capabilities.Firstly,capacity spectrum was used to calculate the probabilities of building damage and its corresponding casualties.Then according to the capacity spectrum of SELENA software,the program for computing building damage and casualty was made using Matlab.Capacity spectrum was used to obtain the probability of building damage states under 8 degree earthquake.Different levels of casualties were estimated according to the relationships between building damage states and casualties provided by HAZUS software when the earthquake occurred at 02∶00,14∶00 and 17∶00,respectively.The assessment results show that most of the injured are slight with only a need for basic medicines or simple treatment;the life-threatening or mortally injured is in the minority.Reinforced concrete buildings cause the largest number of casualties.Capacity spectrum can be used to provide decision for disaster planning and emergency materials allocation.