FEMA P-58: New Developments in the Analysis Process for Wood Light-Frame Buildings

David J. DeBock, Katie F. Wade, Dustin T. Cook, & Curt Haselton

In Preparation 2016, SCEC Contribution #7140

This study demonstrates the feasibility of advanced performance assessments of wood light-frame buildings, using the FEMA P-58 method. Accounting for stiffness and strength contributions from nonstructural walls and wall finishes in the building seismic resistance is shown to be an essential aspect of the performance assessments, particularly for shorter buildings (i.e. ≤ 2 stories). Additionally, the results suggest that the seismic resistance of these buildings can be estimated from component quantities, rather than by dynamic analysis of a robust nonlinear structural model. This newly-enabled use of FEMA P-58 for this building type will allow the prediction of seismic losses (which enables uses for both mortgage due-diligence applications and insurance company risk assessments), prediction of repair times, and the ability to complete a building seismic rating for wood light-frame buildings. This study utilizes advanced structural analysis methods, from the ongoing ATC-116 Project, as part of the performance assessment, but it also outlines near-term future work that will streamline the analysis process by not requiring any structural modeling, thereby reducing the assessment time to the order of hours rather than days.

Citation
DeBock, D. J., Wade, K. F., Cook, D. T., & Haselton, C. (2016). FEMA P-58: New Developments in the Analysis Process for Wood Light-Frame Buildings. Oral Presentation at SEAOC Convention.