Résumé:
The response of buildings under seismic loads is a function of their structural characteristics, therefore the qualities and deficiencies associated with them. If the new structures meet the Algerian Earthquake Design standards established, since 1980 in Algeria, the built heritage of the major cities of the northern part of the country built before this date, consists of a large number of old buildings, characterised by a high vulnerability.
This research focuses on the vulnerability assessment of some building having different typology and structural importance erected before the endorsement of the Algerian Earthquake Design Code.
The experience gained in Europe, especially in Italy and Switzerland, in the conservation and the preservation of heritage buildings and the observation of their behaviour during earthquakes have led to the development of different methods of analysis. Among these methods, the macroelements approach was chosen. It relies on the assumption that these structures are composed of free structural elements acting in quasi-independence to each other.
On the basis of an inventory of 51 buildings built in the downtown of Mostaganem city, the main structural and nonstructural parameters modeling their seismic behavior were analyzed. The vulnerability index was assessed for each structure and the corresponding fragility curves for were derived. In order to mitigate the earthquake losses that might happen during an earthquake, a risk scenario was investigated in terms of different values of the EMS intensity scale.
