Strategies based on Life-Cycle Cost to reduce fatalities and economic losses from seismic and wind hazards in Mexico

ABSTRACT: Optimal safety levels are obtained for two structures located on seismic and eolic zones in Mexico. The formulation is based on the estimation of expected life-cycle costs for the individual risks of the structures and the uncertainties on the seismic and wind loadings are taken into account according to the probabilistic characterization of the corresponding hazards. The criterion is illustrated for two typical structures: a reinforced concrete building located on the soft soil of Mexico City and a bridge built on Tampico, a city on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.