Seismic Performance and Damage Prediction of Existing Fire-protection Pipe Systems Installed in RC Frame Structures

Abstract

Reliability of piping systems is essential to the safety of any important industrial facilities. During an earthquake,damage to the piping system can occur. It can also cause considerable economic losses and the loss of life following earthquakes. Traditionally, the study of the secondary system was less important than primary structure system, however it has recently been emerging as a key issue for the effective maintenance of the structural system and to help reduce nonstructural earthquake damage. The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate seismic design requirements and the seismic performance of gas and fire protection piping systems installed in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. In order to characterize the seismic behavior of the existing piping system in an official building, 10 simulated earthquakes and 9 recorded real earthquakes were applied to ground level and the building system by the newmark average acceleration time history method. The results developed by this research can be used for the improvement of new seismic code/regulatory guidelines of secondary systems as well as the improvement of seismic retrofitting or the strengthening of the current piping system.