Ana Simões

Bio: Ana Simões is an academic researcher from Instituto Superior Técnico. The author has contributed to research in topics: Masonry & Unreinforced masonry building. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 11 publications receiving 247 citations. Previous affiliations of Ana Simões include INESC-ID & University of Lisbon.

Seismic Performance Assessment of Buildings

Abstract: The seismic performance assessment of buildings is a challenging process [...]

Fragility curves for old masonry building types in Lisbon

Abstract: Improving the seismic resistance of traditional buildings is essential for preserving cultural heritage and increasing their safety. This is especially important for old masonry buildings in Lisbon (“Pombalino”, “Gaioleiro” and “Placa”), which are still used for housing and services. Taking this into account, this paper is focused on the seismic assessment of these three types of buildings. The buildings were modelled based on the equivalent frame model approach, their dynamic characteristics were determined and non-linear static (pushover) analyses were performed. Furthermore, for the seismic demand of Lisbon, the seismic performance of such building classes was defined and compared. Finally, with the aim of supporting seismic risk and loss estimation studies, a probabilistic assessment was carried out and the fragility curves for each building type derived.

Mechanical Characterization of Masonry Walls With Flat-Jack Tests

Abstract: The results from an experimental campaign on old masonry buildings from Lisbon are presented and discussed. The tests aim at the evaluation of the masonry deformability properties in compression and the shear strength parameters based on flat-jack testing technique. Tests were carried out in both internal brick masonry walls and external rubble limestone masonry walls. The evaluation of the shear parameters was done according to a new testing technique—shear tests onmasonry walls with flat-jacks—involvingmore than one masonry unit. One of the goals is the calibration and development of this testing technique and to show its first application to the test of rubble stone masonry walls. For that, the experimental technique is fully explained in this paper, and the results of some in situ tests are used to discuss the calibration procedure. Because of the characteristics of the walls, in particular, the great heterogeneity and thickness of the external masonry walls, the application of the flat-jack testing technique involved some uncertainties that are described and debated in this work.

Seismic assessment of nineteenth and twentieth centuries URM buildings in Lisbon: structural features and derivation of fragility curves

Abstract: The article addresses the seismic vulnerability assessment of a typology of unreinforced masonry buildings constructed in Lisbon between the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. The main architectural and structural features of these buildings are presented. This supported the identification of the main uncertainties affecting their seismic performance and the definition of classes of buildings representative of the typology. The seismic assessment includes the generation of fragility curves that combine the in-plane and out-of-plane response following different criteria and methods of analyses. The results put in evidence the seismic vulnerability of this class of buildings. Considering the earthquake-resistant code for Lisbon with a return period of 475 years, about 50% probability of having heavy damage and about 30% probability of collapse were estimated. The structural intervention on these buildings is urgent in order to reduce losses due to future earthquakes. Further studies for the assessment of similar buildings in Lisbon and elsewhere can be developed using the adopted procedure.

Resilience metrics and measurement methods for transportation infrastructure: the state of the art

Abstract: Transportation infrastructure plays an important role in supporting the national economy and social well-being. Extreme events have caused terrible physical damages to the transportation infrastruc...

Uses and limits of the Equivalent Frame Model on existing unreinforced masonry buildings for assessing their seismic risk: A review

Abstract: Since the late 1970s, nonlinear static analysis have had an increasing use in the seismic assessment of existing unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings. Different modelling strategies can be used to evaluate the global seismic response of these buildings, such as the Continuous Constitutive Laws Model (CCLM) and the Equivalent Frame Model (EFM). Despite the CCLM modelling approach seems to be the most suitable at this aim, it needs many input data, which are often quite difficult to be known, and requires a high computational effort. For this reason, the EFM, which is based on strongly simplified hypotheses, is preferred in professional practice, where a small computational burden and a time- and cost-saving structural analysis by using few mechanical parameters is needed. In this paper, a review of its uses and limits is proposed, in order to identify the most critical issues and define its proper use in professional practice when applied to existing URM buildings. As a result, it is highlighted that the EFM can be reasonably used as a first conservative approach for the seismic assessment of existing URM buildings with box behaviour and quite regular opening patterns. Thus, up to now, from this review its use is encouraged in seismic analysis of existing URM buildings after providing them a reduction of their floors and roofs deformability, an adequate wall-to-floor and wall-to-roof connections and a regularization of the opening patterns.