Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects

Estefanía  Cervantes; Jose C. Matos; Eva Lantsoght

Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects

Estefanía Cervantes^*, Jose C. Matos, Eva Lantsoght

^*Corresponding author for this work

Concrete Structures

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volume › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

Reinforced concrete structures (RCSs) face increasing vulnerability due to aging, deterioration, and climate change, compounded by seismic events. This paper proposes a framework that integrates time-dependent deterioration mechanisms, climate projections, and seismic vulnerability analyses. The methodology develops deterioration profiles using site-specific data while employing Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) to evaluate seismic risks. Climate scenarios from the IPCC address non-stationary climate impacts, such as accelerated corrosion. This research represents a first step toward defining a systematic process for assessing these combined effects. The proposed framework addresses critical gaps in traditional vulnerability assessments and contributes to improving the resilience of aging infrastructure under combined environmental and seismic hazards.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	IABSE Congress Ghent 2025
Subtitle of host publication	The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society
Editors	Davide Leonetti, H.H. (Bert) Snijder, Bart De Pauw, Sander van Alphen
Place of Publication	Zurich
Publisher	International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)
Pages	1884-1893
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	978-3-85748-210-6
Publication status	Published - 2025
Event	IABSE Congress Ghent 2025: The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society - Ghent, Belgium Duration: 27 Aug 2025 → 29 Aug 2025 https://iabse.org/Ghent2025

Conference

Conference	IABSE Congress Ghent 2025
Country/Territory	Belgium
City	Ghent
Period	27/08/25 → 29/08/25
Internet address	https://iabse.org/Ghent2025

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl.

Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

aging infrastructure
corrosion
climate change
deterioration mechanisms
fragility analysis
IPCC scenarios
performance-based earthquake engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Embargoed Document

Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects
Final published version, 1.35 MB
Embargo ends: 1/03/26

Cite this

Cervantes, E., Matos, J. C., & Lantsoght, E. (2025). Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects. In D. Leonetti, H. H. Snijder, B. De Pauw, & S. van Alphen (Eds.), IABSE Congress Ghent 2025: The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society (pp. 1884-1893). International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE).

Cervantes, Estefanía ; Matos, Jose C. ; Lantsoght, Eva. / Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects. IABSE Congress Ghent 2025: The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society. editor / Davide Leonetti ; H.H. (Bert) Snijder ; Bart De Pauw ; Sander van Alphen. Zurich : International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), 2025. pp. 1884-1893

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title = "Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects",

abstract = "Reinforced concrete structures (RCSs) face increasing vulnerability due to aging, deterioration, and climate change, compounded by seismic events. This paper proposes a framework that integrates time-dependent deterioration mechanisms, climate projections, and seismic vulnerability analyses. The methodology develops deterioration profiles using site-specific data while employing Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) to evaluate seismic risks. Climate scenarios from the IPCC address non-stationary climate impacts, such as accelerated corrosion. This research represents a first step toward defining a systematic process for assessing these combined effects. The proposed framework addresses critical gaps in traditional vulnerability assessments and contributes to improving the resilience of aging infrastructure under combined environmental and seismic hazards.",

keywords = "aging infrastructure, corrosion, climate change, deterioration mechanisms, fragility analysis, IPCC scenarios, performance-based earthquake engineering",

author = "Estefan{\'i}a Cervantes and Matos, {Jose C.} and Eva Lantsoght",

note = "Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public. ; IABSE Congress Ghent 2025 : The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society ; Conference date: 27-08-2025 Through 29-08-2025",

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pages = "1884--1893",

editor = "Davide Leonetti and Snijder, {H.H. (Bert)} and {De Pauw}, Bart and {van Alphen}, Sander",

booktitle = "IABSE Congress Ghent 2025",

publisher = "International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)",

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Cervantes, E, Matos, JC & Lantsoght, E 2025, Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects. in D Leonetti, HH Snijder, B De Pauw & S van Alphen (eds), IABSE Congress Ghent 2025: The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society. International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), Zurich, pp. 1884-1893, IABSE Congress Ghent 2025, Ghent, Belgium, 27/08/25.

Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects. / Cervantes, Estefanía ; Matos, Jose C.; Lantsoght, Eva.
IABSE Congress Ghent 2025: The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society. ed. / Davide Leonetti; H.H. (Bert) Snijder; Bart De Pauw; Sander van Alphen. Zurich: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE), 2025. p. 1884-1893.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedings/Edited volume › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects

AU - Cervantes, Estefanía

AU - Matos, Jose C.

AU - Lantsoght, Eva

N1 - Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository as part of the Taverne amendment. More information about this copyright law amendment can be found at https://www.openaccess.nl. Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Reinforced concrete structures (RCSs) face increasing vulnerability due to aging, deterioration, and climate change, compounded by seismic events. This paper proposes a framework that integrates time-dependent deterioration mechanisms, climate projections, and seismic vulnerability analyses. The methodology develops deterioration profiles using site-specific data while employing Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) to evaluate seismic risks. Climate scenarios from the IPCC address non-stationary climate impacts, such as accelerated corrosion. This research represents a first step toward defining a systematic process for assessing these combined effects. The proposed framework addresses critical gaps in traditional vulnerability assessments and contributes to improving the resilience of aging infrastructure under combined environmental and seismic hazards.

AB - Reinforced concrete structures (RCSs) face increasing vulnerability due to aging, deterioration, and climate change, compounded by seismic events. This paper proposes a framework that integrates time-dependent deterioration mechanisms, climate projections, and seismic vulnerability analyses. The methodology develops deterioration profiles using site-specific data while employing Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE) to evaluate seismic risks. Climate scenarios from the IPCC address non-stationary climate impacts, such as accelerated corrosion. This research represents a first step toward defining a systematic process for assessing these combined effects. The proposed framework addresses critical gaps in traditional vulnerability assessments and contributes to improving the resilience of aging infrastructure under combined environmental and seismic hazards.

KW - aging infrastructure

KW - corrosion

KW - climate change

KW - deterioration mechanisms

KW - fragility analysis

KW - IPCC scenarios

KW - performance-based earthquake engineering

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-3-85748-210-6

SP - 1884

EP - 1893

BT - IABSE Congress Ghent 2025

A2 - Leonetti, Davide

A2 - Snijder, H.H. (Bert)

A2 - De Pauw, Bart

A2 - van Alphen, Sander

PB - International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE)

CY - Zurich

T2 - IABSE Congress Ghent 2025

Y2 - 27 August 2025 through 29 August 2025

ER -

Cervantes E, Matos JC, Lantsoght E. Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects. In Leonetti D, Snijder HH, De Pauw B, van Alphen S, editors, IABSE Congress Ghent 2025: The Essence of Structural Engineering for Society. Zurich: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). 2025. p. 1884-1893

Framework for the seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete structures considering climate change effects

Abstract

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Embargoed Document

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Cite this