Seismic vulnerability analysis of a complex interconnected civil Infrastructure

This chapter presents a computational framework for probabilistic seismic performance assessment of the network of interdependent infrastructural systems that supports the functions of our society. An increasing number of large-scale failures (effects), initiated by relatively small natural or man-made disturbances (causes), have brought unforeseen disruption to infrastructures in recent years. The disproportion between causes and effects highlight an emergent chaotic behaviour, traceable in the infrastructure complexity and level of interconnectedness. In order to quantify this complexity and emulate the behaviour of the infrastructure as it emerges from that of its components and their interaction, an object-oriented model is developed.