ABSTRACT
A key element in the development of prevention strategies and in the forecasting damage caused by seismic events in historical buildings is the analysis of their structural behavior. Vulnerability assessment is a fundamental step in order to reduce the seismic risk of existing constructions. This chapter explains the seismic vulnerability assessment of the historic center of Timisoara, in the region of Banat. By the implementation of reliable analyses, the adopted methodology is based on a rapid survey that allows the definition of the seismic damageability of ordinary masonry aggregate buildings of the whole historical center. During seismic events, clustered buildings often developed local failure mechanisms. In Timisoara, out-of-plane local mechanisms were usually recorded in the upper part of the buildings, while in the lower part in-plane mechanisms were observed. The application of local technologies, such as the use of steel tie bars inside walls, adopted in the Banat region, contribute to improve buildings seismic behavior.
