ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The direct cost comparison determines a wrong evaluation of the effectiveness of innovative seismic protection system, not accounting for the differences in the performance levels characterising the conventional and enhanced solutions. Deterministic and probabilistic procedures for the estimate of consequence parameters are evoked. Comparative analyses of the seismic response, in terms of typical demand parameters (story drift and floor acceleration) of conventional fixed-base and innovative base-isolated buildings are carried out. The evaluations account for the probabilistic nature of the external and internal influence parameters controlling the structure response that are managed with the statistics analytical tools. The main scattering source is the seismic input, but its consequence is practically zeroed by the isolation system performance. The other uncertainty sources, building characteristics, entity of the undergone damage, consequence of the damage, become irrelevant on the consequence evaluation on the occupants, costs and downtime.
