Cost Assessment of Seismic Mitigation Designs

The Earthquake can be considered as a natural phenomenon or a disaster based on the seismic response of structures during a severe earthquake that plays a vital role in the extent of structural damage and resulting injuries and losses. It is necessary to predict the performance of the existing structures and structures at the design stage when it subjected to an earthquake load. Also it is needed to predict the repair cost required for the rehabilitation of the existing buildings that is insufficient in seismic resistance and the construction cost and the expected repairing cost for the structures at the design stage that designed to have a ductile behavior with acceptable cracks. This study aims to propose a method for seismic performance evaluation for existing and new structures depending on the width of cracks resulted from the seismic exposure. Also the effect of the building performance during earthquakes on its life cycle cost. FEMA 356 criteria were used to predict the building responses due to seismic hazard.