Abstract:
Earthquakes pose a significant threat to life and infrastructure in seismically active regions
like Zone 1, Islamabad, Pakistan. This study proposes a comprehensive seismic
vulnerability assessment using the Non-Linear Static (Pushover) Analysis with Capacity
spectrum methodology. Existing research establishes Pakistan's vulnerability due to its
tectonic location, but a study gap exists specifically focusing on Zone 1. This gap is
concerning due to Islamabad's rapid urbanization and the potential vulnerability of critical
structures. Pushover analysis offers a comprehensive yet practical approach, generating
capacity curves that depict a building's performance under increasing seismic loads. The
proposed methodology will involve data collection on building geometry, materials, and
geotechnical properties. Subsequently, structural models will be developed, and
pushover analysis will be conducted to generate capacity curves. These curves will be
compared with pre-defined performance objectives to categorize building vulnerability.
The expected outcomes include a vulnerability map of Zone 1, prioritization for building
retrofitting, and valuable data for future research. This research aims to contribute to
improved seismic resilience in Islamabad and similar urban centers in Pakistan.
