Seismic performance assessment of piping systems in bare and infilled RC buildings

Abstract Recent studies evidenced that non-structural damage in buildings caused by earthquakes leads to high economic losses and can represent a threat for life safety. Particularly, piping network damage has been widely documented in post-earthquake inspections. In this study, a cascade analysis is conducted to evaluate the seismic demand on two types of piping networks installed in a reinforced concrete framed building. The cascade analysis is performed employing floor acceleration time-histories obtained through non-linear dynamic analyses of infilled and bare frames. The dynamic response of the piping networks is defined accounting for the non-linear behaviour of pipe joints and suspended piping restraint installations. The results show that the acceleration demand and the damage on the network significantly increase in infilled frames compared to bare frames. Additionally, a different seismic damage rate was observed comparing the two piping networks. The outcome of this study is used to provide design recommendations for suspended piping restraint installations, aimed at reducing the seismic vulnerability of the piping networks.