Vulnerability functions for buildings based on damage survey Data in Sri Lanka after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

Abstract

The authors investigated building damage conditions as a result of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami in five areas of Galle, Matara, and Hambantota, Sri Lanka. This paper presents tsunami vulnerability functions for the buildings, a relationship between building damage and inundation, in the country. In order to develop the functions, the authors used 1,535 building damage data in terms of structural types, solid (mainly reinforced concrete) and non-solid (masonry and timber-frame), and 166 inundation height data obtained by the field surveys. The developed fragility curves are compared with other curves previously developed by other researchers, and those future usages are discussed.