Building Damage Criteria from Strong Ground Motion Characteristics during the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake.

Relationships between collapse ratios (CRs) of buildings and characteristics of strong ground motions during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake was founded. Vulnerability functions of buildings were established in relation to PGA, PGV, PSA, and PPSv. Damage criteria for CR<10% corresponding to 'minor and moderate damage' were PGA<250 gal, PGV<25 cm/s, PSA<900 gal, and PPSv<50 cm/s. For CR>50%, corresponding to the 'extremely serious damage' were PGA>600 gal, PGV>55 cm/s, PSA>2200 gal, and PPSv>120 cm/s. Seismic damage during the Wenchuan earthquake was heavier than that of the 1995 Kobe and 1999 Chi-Chi earthquakes for the same levels of ground motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]