Seismic loss analysis comparison between 2D and 3D model frames for a Peruvian university building with simulated fragility functions

University buildings in Perú are considered critical structures which do not present enough information about its seismic vulnerability. This research develops a probabilistic methodology that estimates seismic losses for a Peruvian university building based on fragility functions. These functions represent the overall building behavior through 2D and 3D model frames. These results will permit to know if 2D analyzed results are sufficient to know the real 3D structure behavior. Latin Hypercube technique, an improved Montecarlo-based method, allowed to generate fragility functions through a simulation process. This method creates 100 reliable samples of structural parameters for every level of seismic demand. Three structural parameters were considered in the simulation process as follows: Concrete compressive strength, maximum concrete strain and yield stress of the reinforcing steel. Synthetic records defined seismic demand and these signals were compatible with the elastic Peruvian design spectrum. Acceleration records were scaled based on the peak ground acceleration on rigid soil (PGA) which goes from 0.05g to 1.00g. A total of 2000 structural models were created considering both structural and seismic variability. The university building shows an expected Mean Damage Factor of 18.40% and 20.25% in X direction and 12.65% and 8.80% in Y direction, for 3D and 2D model frames respectively; considering a 0.22g-PGA scenario, which was amplified by the soil type coefficient and resulted in 0.26g-PGA. These ratios were computed considering a seismic demand related to 10% of probability of exceedance in 50 years which is a requirement in the Peruvian seismic code. These results show an acceptable seismic performance.