Tsunami vulnerability functions for nonresidential buildings based on damage survey data of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

Abstract

We estimate restoration cost of damaged nonresidential buildings from tsunami damage survey data from the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, and calculate the ratio of the cost to its replacement cost for each building. Using the damage ratio and inundation depth, vulnerability functions are developed for steel industrial plants (including depositories), steel nonresidential buildings excepting the former, and reinforced concrete buildings. In comparison between the obtained three functions, the damage ratios of steel buildings are equal to or higher than the one of RC buildings at the same inundation depth, steel industrial plants are more vulnerable than steel buildings of the other use for the depth less than about 3.5m, and the relation is reversed for deeper inundation depth.