Construction Of Seismic Fragility Curves For Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings In Cuba

Abstract

This study developed the first comprehensive procedure to generate specific seismic fragility curves for reinforced concrete frame buildings in Cuba. A total of 297 structural variants designed under NC 46:1999 and NC 46:2017 regulations were analyzed, incorporating mechanical properties of Cuban reinforcing steels (G-40, A44) and local seismic conditions. Using Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis with representative accelerograms scaled to match the Cuban Uniform Hazard Spectrum, damage thresholds were quantified based on maximum inter-story drift. Results show reductions of up to 60.3% in drift for complete damage state in NC 46:2017 structures, demonstrating significant improvements in seismic performance. Empirical validation using international data confirmed high accuracy (R² = 0.976). The resulting curves constitute a robust probabilistic tool for the technical evaluation of seismic vulnerability and the revision of design codes in Cuba.