OPTIMAL ASEISMIC STRUCTURAL STANDARDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

The problem of defining optimal structural standards for the resistance of buildings to lateral earthquake-induced loads is examined. Reference is made to a minimum global cost criterion, taking into account both building cost of the new buildings and expected future damage to the entire settlement. The variables of the optimum problem are: the seismic coefficient to be assumed for the design of new or strengthened buildings (that will replace the old ones) and the time in which the replacement process is completed. The minimum cost criterion permits the derivation of an optimality relationship between the duration of the replacement process and the standards of seismic resistance for new or strengthened buildings.