Md. Ariful Islam, Md. Ammar Alam Sarkar, H. M. A. Mahzuz and Md. Jahir Bin Alam
Bangladesh is in a very seismically susceptible region of the southern part of Asia. Bangladesh is facing a high risk of moderate to strong earthquakes that may result in widespread damage and loss of thousands of lives and horrendous structural damage. Sylhet district is also vulnerable in this situation. If a massive earthquake with seven or greater magnitude occurs in this district, it will lead to a major human tragedy due to the faulty structures of many existing buildings. In this study, the seismic capacity of twelve RC buildings have been evaluated by Visual Rating method and a Simplified method for seismic evaluation of RC buildings presented by Hassan & Sozen. Here, the Visual Rating method is a rapid visual screening type method and Hassan & Sozen’s method is an elaborate method which requires design of the buildings. Results of both methods have been compared to judge the result of the Visual Rating method. Then evaluated RC buildings were categorized according to their vulnerability from less vulnerable to more vulnerable. Vulnerable buildings are recommended for further evaluation. In this thesis, among twelve evaluated RC buildings, two RC buildings were found to be vulnerable in both methods. Those two buildings were suggested for further evaluation with Detail Seismic Evaluation Method-1 & 2 by Japan to take proper steps towards the right solution for those buildings.