A mechanical-based seismic vulnerability assessment method with an application to masonry structures in Cosenza (Italy)

The paper presents a mechanical-based framework for the evaluation of local-scale seismic fragility curves. The approach is oriented to a seismic vulnerability assessment of unrein- forced masonry buildings and makes use of basic exposure data easily obtained from sur- vey or available in existing database. An efficient finite element model and static nonlinear analyses are employed to assess the structural behaviour. The mechanical-based fragility curves are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations that allow to account for the uncer- tainties propagation. The proposed approach is tested on a case-study regarding the city centre of Cosenza, in southern Italy, using exposure information available from CARTIS database.