L’Aquila earthquake April 6th, 2009 : the damage assessment methodologies

Abstract

Different Methodologies were adopted during the field investigations and the assessment of damage in structures following the Abruzzo (Italy) Earthquake of the 6th April 2009. The scope of the paper is to review the different methodologies adopted by the COST Action C26 Field Investigation Team, and the methodologies considered by the EEFIT Team in the field assignments conducted in the aftermath of the earthquake. The COST C26 team based the assignment on a number of methodologies: theAeDES (AeDES&AeDES Modified) and the MEDEA, used by the Italian Civil Protection for Masonry and Reinforced Concrete structures; the EEFIT team methodology included the general observations, the rapid survey using EMS-98, and the detailed survey. The aim of the paper is to review the methods, assess the type and extent of data collected and the scale considered, and analyse each methodology with respect to the scope of the tasks undertaken.A critical assessment of the methods, is presented with respect to the varying parameters including the scale and detail of assessment, the structure type, and the evaluation criteria for risk and conformity.