Evaluation of the seismic susceptibility in the north of morocco considering the soil-structure interaction

Abstract

Abstract Due to its geographical location, Morocco is situated on the northwest edge of the African plate, which is continuously moving towards and colliding with the Eurasian plate. This movement makes Morocco a country with moderate seismic activity, occasionally resulting in destructive earthquakes reaching a magnitude close to 6.5 (2004 Al Hoceima earthquake). The application of seismic building codes to new constructions has been mandatory in Morocco since 2002 for nearly all buildings located in areas other than Zone 0. However, there is no obligation for preventive strengthening concerning existing buildings. Yet, the seismic vulnerability of these structures can be quite high, and in the most exposed areas, significant loss of human life could be caused by high-intensity earthquakes. Seismic prevention must naturally be complemented by methods to determine the damage to a structure and, consequently, its vulnerability. Therefore, the objective of this contribution is to study the seismic performance and identify the levels of damage in reinforced concrete structures in the city of Al Hoceima, taking into account the nonlinear behavior of the structures and considering soil-structure interaction.