Vulnerability Functions

Vulnerability functions are the basic constitutional elements of a catastrophe model. They relate a hazard intensity measurement, such as wind gusts or ground acceleration, to building damage.

We develop reliable Hurricane and Seismic vulnerability curves for any building typology. Thanks to both, our research in developing state-of-the-art vulnerability methodologies and our experience in large applied international projects, we can provide you with probabilistic functions and the rationale behind them.

Hurricane Vulnerability Functions

We produce hurricane vulnerability functions using Monte Carlo simulations to represent the damage models. The function are probabilistic and validated with damage data when possible.

Seismic Vulnerability Functions

We assess seismic vulnerability by predicting dynamic response using computer simulation and statistical analysis of simulated scenarios. Rather than estimating structural response using pseudo-static procedures such as capacity spectrum or similar approaches, the computation of response and damage using direct integration of equations of motion of nonlinear structural models is the approach desired as an alternative for computation of vulnerability and fragility curves.