Residential building stock in Serbia: classification and vulnerability for seismic risk studies

Abstract

Regional seismic risk assessment is necessary for designing effective seismic risk mitigation measures. In general, such risk assessment studies consist of three components: hazard, vulnerability, and exposure modelling. This paper lays the foundations for regional seismic risk assessment of the residential building stock in Serbia and addresses each of the three seismic risk assessment components, either by reviewing the existing or proposing novel models. First, a review of seismic hazard models and seismic design codes used in Serbia in the past 70 years was presented. Next, an overview of Serbia’s population metrics and historical development of Serbian’s residential building stock was presented to provide the context for the exposure model. Furthermore, the paper proposed a novel building classification for Serbia's residential building stock, which is based on the existing building taxonomies, but it has been adapted to account for the local building characteristics. Building damage patterns reported in past earthquakes in Serbia and neighbouring countries were reviewed as a basis for damage classification pertaining to building typologies included in the proposed classification. Finally, the results of a preliminary vulnerability model were presented in the form of expert-based fragility functions derived for buildings typical of Serbia's residential building stock.

Seismic Assessment of a Modernist Building in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…The pioneering investigation by Blagojević et al [19] yielded illuminating insights, particularly concerning the resilience demonstrated by modern confined masonry structures characterized by meticulously constructed RC confining elements, notably observed during the seismic event of 2010 in Kraljevo, Serbia. However, a stark contrast emerged with structures exhibiting inadequately reinforced confining elements and walls featuring horizontally aligned perforations in modular clay blocks, which succumbed to damage.…”

“…The variable thickness of these walls, ranging from 19 to 38 cm, was contingent upon the structure's elevation and the specific masonry unit employed. Conversely, multi-family residential buildings typically featured exterior wall thicknesses ranging from 38 to 51 cm and interior wall thicknesses spanning 25 to 30 cm, a testament to the nuanced structural considerations entailed in their design and construction [19].…”

Seismic Design of a Typical Mid-Rise Residential Building in Serbia Using Confined Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Frame Systems

“…On 3 November 2010, a magnitude (ML)-5.4 earthquake affected the city of Kraljevo, Serbia, and the neighboring villages. The earthquake caused two fatalities and affected more CM construction has been practiced in the Balkan region, particularly within the territory of Yugoslavia [2], since 1964, when the first seismic design code, PTP-12 [3,4], was published. A subsequent version of the code, PTN-S, was issued in 1981 [5], and it was enforced within the territory of Yugoslavia until the 21st century, although the breakdown of the country occurred in 1991.…”