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Site Condition Influence on the Generalized Interstory Drift Spectrum (GIDS) as a Damage Estimation Tool for Urban Areas during Mw 7.8 Muisne-Pedernales Earthquake, Ecuador

Abstract:

On April 16, 2016, Ecuador was affected by a Mw 7.8 earthquake (April 16, 2016, Muisne-Pedernales earthquake), which caused significant damage to the northwest region of the country. The first objective of this document is to compare the observed structural damage on the city of Manta, Ecuador, particularly on its main commercial and touristic neighborhood (Tarqui), with the structural damage estimated using the following approach: using a deconvoluted outcrop strong motion records from April, 16, 2016, event and nonlinear site response analyses of the area, apply the generalized interstory drift spectrum (GIDS) proposed by Miranda and Akkar (2006), and correlate it with damage levels proposed by Ghobarah (2004). Once the GIDS was established as an efficient damage estimator tool, a similar approach was used to evaluate the city of Esmeraldas. Esmeraldas is located in the northern region of the country, near the border with Colombia, and is the city with the highest seismicity in the country (suffered a Mw 8.8 earthquake on 1906). Therefore, using information from the seismic zonation study of the city, and applying the GIDS approach as a screening tool, will be evaluated the structural vulnerability of the city and serve to identify buildings and urban regions that are more likely to be damaged in future earthquakes.