Analysis methodology for the evaluation of the eruption effects on buildings

Abstract

Overview: Human life is strongly influenced by natural disasters. Among them the volcanic eruptions have destructive capacity directly bound to the violence of the event. The effects on urban settlements of the eruption, especially if explosive, are devastating. The volcanic risk can be defined by means of the following general equation: Risk = Value×Hazard×Vulnerability where Value is the number of lives or the monetary value of goods at risk in a volcanic area; Hazard is the probability that a given area will be affected by a certain volcanic phenomenon; Vulnerability is the percentage of lives or goods likely to be lost because of a given volcanic event (Scandone and D’Andrea, 1994). In this context, the main task of the Structural Engineering is the analysis of the vulnerability of the typical buildings located in the volcanic area under the effect of all eruptive actions.