BCIM inputs

The bcim input dictionary controls the generation of the portfolio taxonomy attributes and geometry variables, which are subsequently used in the simulated design process. The example below illustrates a complete bcim input dictionary configuration. The individual parameters are described in the sections that follow.

Important

The taxonomy attributes defined by the design_class, num_storeys, and beta parameters must always be specified by the user, together with the building portfolio size defined by sample_size. All other parameters are optional. If not specified, default values defined in the design-class configuration files (e.g., eu_cdl.json) located in simdesign/rcmrf/bcim/data are applied automatically.

{
  "sample_size": 150,
  "seed": 1993,

  "beta": 0.1,
  "num_storeys": 5,
  "design_class": "eu_cdh",

  "exterior_infill_type": {
    "typology": [1, 2, 3],
    "probability": [0.4, 0.4, 0.2]
  },
  "interior_infill_type": {
    "typology": [1, 2, 3],
    "probability": [0.4, 0.4, 0.2]
  },
  "infill_configuration": {
    "configuration": [1, 2, 5, 6],
    "probability": [0.2, 0.2, 0.3, 0.3]
  },

  "typical_storey_height": {
    "cv": 0.07,
    "mu": 2.90,
    "lower_bound": 2.3,
    "upper_bound": 3.8
  },
  "staircase_bay_width": {
    "lower_bound": 2.8,
    "upper_bound": 3.2
  },
  "standard_bay_width": {
    "corr_coeff_xy": -0.92,
    "lower_bound_x": 3.5,
    "upper_bound_x": 7.5,
    "theta_x": 4.5,
    "sigma_x": 0.35,
    "lower_bound_y": 3.5,
    "upper_bound_y": 7.5,
    "theta_y": 4.5,
    "sigma_y": 0.35
  },
  "layout": ["B01", "B04", "B05"],

  "steel": {
    "grade": ["S400", "S500"],
    "probability": [0.10, 0.90]
  },
  "concrete": {
    "grade": ["C20/25", "C25/30", "C30/37", "C35/45"],
    "probability": [0.30, 0.45, 0.20, 0.05]
  },

  "ground_storey_height": {
    "maximum": 4.20,
    "factor": [1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4],
    "probability": [0.55, 0.10, 0.20, 0.10, 0.05]
  },

  "construction_quality": {
    "quality": [1, 2, 3],
    "probability": [0.6, 0.3, 0.1]
  },
  "slab_typology": {
    "ss1_prob_given_ss1_or_hs": 0.50,
    "ss2_prob_given_ss2_or_hs": 0.65
  },

  "wb_prob_given_hs": 0.50,
  "square_column_prob": 0.50
}

Primary Taxonomy Attributes

The parameters in this section are specified by the user and define the primary taxonomy attributes of the building portfolio.

beta (float)

Design lateral load factor.

num_storeys (int)

Number of storeys in each building.

design_class (str)

Design class identifier (e.g., "eu_cdh") The following design classes are currently available:

  • "eu_cdn" Buildings designed without explicit seismic provisions, typically constructed before the 1960s for gravity loads only using allowable stress methods. Structural design follows the provisions of RBA-1935, adopted as representative of European practice of the time.

  • "eu_cdl" Buildings designed with early seismic provisions (approximately 1960s-1970s). Lateral loads are considered but design is based on allowable stress design and the stress-block method (Guerrin, 1966). Structural design follows the provisions of REBA-1967, which traces back to the CEB-1963 guidelines and is broadly representative of European practice of that era.

  • "eu_cdm" Buildings designed according to more modern seismic design codes (approximately 1970s-2000s) using limit-state design concepts and improved detailing rules to enhance structural ductility. Structural design follows the provisions of REBAP-1983 (d’Arga e Lima et al., 2005), which is based on the CEB-1978 recommendations.

  • "eu_cdh" Buildings designed according to contemporary seismic design standards (early 2000s-present), implementing capacity design principles and reinforcement detailing rules aimed at achieving target ductility levels. Structural design follows EN 1992-1-1:2004 (Eurocode 2) and EN 1998-1:2004 (Eurocode 8), with section design based on d’Arga e Lima et al. (2005).

  • "tr_7599" Buildings constructed between 1975 and 1999, designed according to TBEC-1975 and reinforced concrete design provisions in TS500-1984. This class represents early seismic design practices in Türkiye, often associated with relatively low ductility capacity and variable construction quality.

  • "tr_0018_dcm" Buildings constructed between 2000 and 2018 with moderate ductility level (DCM). Designs follow provisions from TBEC-1998 (largely retained in TBEC-2007) together with TS500-2000 reinforced concrete design rules. Capacity design principles are generally not enforced.

  • "tr_0018_dch" Buildings constructed between 2000 and 2018 with high ductility level (DCH). Designs follow TBEC-1998 / TBEC-2007 seismic provisions and TS500-2000, including capacity design principles such as the strong-column-weak-beam concept and capacity-based shear design.

  • "tr_post18_dcm" Buildings constructed after 2018 with moderate ductility level (DCM), designed according to the TBEC-2018 seismic code and TS500-2000. These buildings incorporate updated seismic hazard definitions and improved detailing rules introduced in the modern code framework.

  • "tr_post18_dch" Buildings constructed after 2018 with high ductility level (DCH), designed according to TBEC-2018 with full implementation of modern capacity design principles and stricter detailing requirements to ensure enhanced seismic performance.

beta_v (float)

Design vertical load factor. This is only required "tr_post18_dch" and "tr_post18_dcm" design classes.

Sampling Parameters

The parameters in this section control the sampling process.

sample_size (int)

Size of the generated sample (number of realisations).

seed (int)

Seed used for random number generation.

Parameters for Sampling of Geometry Variables

These parameters control the sampling of geometry variables describing the geometric characteristics of the buildings.

typical_storey_height (dict)

Parameters for typical storey heights represented by a truncated log-normal distribution.

  • mu (float): mean storey height

  • cv (float): coefficient of variation

  • lower_bound (float): lower bound value

  • upper_bound (float): upper bound value

standard_bay_width (dict)

Parameters of a truncated log-normal distribution for standard bay widths.

  • corr_coeff_xy (float): correlation coefficient between x and y bay widths

  • lower_bound_x (float): lower bound for bay width in x direction

  • upper_bound_x (float): upper bound for bay width in x direction

  • theta_x (float): median (x)

  • sigma_x (float): logarithmic standard deviation (x)

  • lower_bound_y (float): lower bound for bay width in y direction

  • upper_bound_y (float): upper bound for bay width in y direction

  • theta_y (float): median (y)

  • sigma_y (float): logarithmic standard deviation (y)

staircase_bay_width (dict)

Parameters of a uniform distribution for staircase bay width.

  • lower_bound (float): lower bound value

  • upper_bound (float): upper bound value

ground_storey_height (dict)

Parameters used to sample ground storey heights.

Sampled typical storey heights are multiplied by factors sampled from factor according to the corresponding probability values. If the resulting value exceeds maximum, it is capped at this limit.

  • maximum (float): maximum possible ground storey height

  • factor (list[float]): factors applied to typical storey heights

  • probability (list[float]): probabilities of the factors (the sum should be equal to 1.0)

layout ("all" or list[str])

Layout IDs considered for building generation.

Use "all" to include all layouts or provide a list of layout tags. Layouts are defined in the internal layout database.

Available floor layouts

Tag

num_bays_x

num_bays_y

stairs_grid_x

stairs_grid_y

B01

3

2

1

0

B02

5

2

2

0

B03

7

2

3

0

B04

3

3

1

0

B04b

3

3

1

1

B05

5

3

2

0

B06

7

3

3

0

B07

3

3

0

0

B08

3

4

0

0

B09

3

5

0

0

B10

3

6

0

0

Parameters for Sampling of Secondary Taxonomy Attributes

These parameters control the sampling of the secondary taxonomy attributes describing initial conceptual design choices for the buildings.

exterior_infill_type (dict)

Parameters for sampling exterior masonry infill typologies.

  • typology (list[int], default: [1, 2, 3])

    Infill typology identifiers (IDs):

    • 1: Weak (T1 in Hak et al. 2012)

    • 2: Medium (T2 in Hak et al. 2012)

    • 3: Strong (T3 in Hak et al. 2012)

  • probability (list[float], default: [0.6, 0.3, 0.1])

    Probability associated with each typology ID (The sum should be equal to 1.0)

interior_infill_type (dict)

Same structure as exterior_infill_type, applied to interior infills.

infill_configuration (dict)

Parameters for sampling masonry infill configuration IDs.

  • configuration (list[int], default: [1, 2])

Masonry infill wall configuration IDs:

  • 1: Exterior only, Regular over the height, XX + YY

  • 2: Exterior only, Pilotis, XX + YY

  • 3: Exterior only, Pilotis, XX

  • 4: Exterior only, Pilotis, YY

  • 5: Exterior + Interior, Regular over the height, XX + YY

  • 6: Exterior + Interior, Pilotis, XX + YY

  • 7: Exterior + Interior, Pilotis, XX

  • 8: Exterior + Interior, Pilotis, YY

  • 9: Interior only, Regular over the height, XX + YY

  • 10: Interior only, Pilotis, XX + YY

  • 11: Interior only, Pilotis, XX

  • 12: Interior only, Pilotis, YY

  • probability (list[float], default: [0.7, 0.3])

    Probability associated with each configuration ID. The sum should be equal to 1.0.

Notes:

  • Infills around the stairs are included regardless of the configuration.

  • Gravity loads associated with masonry infills are derived directly from the selected infill configuration.

concrete (dict) / steel (dict)

Material grade sampling distributions.

  • grade (list[str]): material tags, i.e., concrete strength classes or steel grades

  • probability (list[float]): occurrence probabilities for each material, the sum should be equal to 1.0

construction_quality (dict)

Construction quality sampling distribution.

  • quality (list[int], default: [1, 2, 3]): Construction quality identifiers (IDs)

    • 1: High quality

    • 2: Moderate quality

    • 3: Low quality

  • probability (list[float]): occurrence probabilities for each quality ID, the sum should be equal to 1.0

slab_typology (dict)

Parameters required for slab typology sampling / decision tree.

  • ss1_prob_given_ss1_or_hs (float): probability of having SS1 type slab given that the slab type is either SS1 or HS

  • ss2_prob_given_ss2_or_hs (float): probability of having SS2 type slab given that the slab type is either SS2 or HS

  • max_ss_short_span (float): upper limit for the short span length in solid slabs (SS1, SS2)

  • max_ss2_aspect_ratio (float): upper limit for the ratio of maximum to minimum span lengths (aspect ratio) in SS2 slabs

  • staircase_slab_depth (float): depth of the staircase slabs, if not provided computed during the design process

  • floor_slab_thickness (float): thickness of the floor slabs, if not provided computed the design process

Definitions:

  1. SS2 refers to solid two-way cast-in-situ slabs

  2. SS1 refers to solid one-way cast-in-situ slabs

  3. HS refers to composite slabs with pre-fabricated joists and ceramic blocks.

wb_prob_given_hs (float)

Probability of having wide beams (WB) given slab type is HS.

square_column_prob (float)

Probability of having square columns.

References

RBA (1935). Regulamento do Betão Armado. Decreto N.° 25:948, Lisbon, Portugal.

REBAP (1983). Regulamento de Estruturas de Betão Armado e Pré-Esforçado. Decreto-Lei N.° 349-C/83, Lisbon, Portugal.

Comité Européen du Béton, CEB (1963). Recommandations Pratiques à l’Usage des Constructeurs. fib - International Federation for Structural Concrete, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Guerrin, A. (1966). Traité de Béton Armé. Dunod, Paris, France.

REBA (1967). Regulamento de Estruturas de Betão Armado. Decreto N.° 47:723, Lisbon, Portugal.

d’Arga e Lima, J., Monteiro, V., and Mun, M. (2005). Betão Armado — Esforços Normais e de Flexão (REBAP-83). Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil, Lisbon, Portugal.

Comité Européen du Béton, CEB (1978). Système International de Réglementation Technique Unifiée des Structures, Vol. 1 — Règles Unifiées Communes. fib - International Federation for Structural Concrete, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Comité Européen du Béton, CEB (1978). Système International de Réglementation Technique Unifiée des Structures, Vol. 2 — Code-Modèle CEB-FIP pour les Structures en Béton. fib - International Federation for Structural Concrete, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Comité Européen de Normalisation, CEN (2004). Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures — Part 1-1: General Rules and Rules for Buildings. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, Belgium.

Comité Européen de Normalisation, CEN (2004). Eurocode 8: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance — Part 1: General Rules, Seismic Actions and Rules for Buildings. European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, Belgium.

Hak, S., Morandi, P., Magenes, G., & Sullivan, T. J. (2012). Damage control for clay masonry infills in the design of RC frame structures. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 16(sup1), 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632469.2012.670575

TBEC (1975). Afet Bölgelerinde Yapılacak Yapılar Hakkında Yönetmelik. Resmi Gazete, Ankara, Türkiye.

TBEC (1998). Afet Bölgelerinde Yapılacak Yapılar Hakkında Yönetmelik. Resmi Gazete, Ankara, Türkiye.

TBEC (2007). Deprem Bölgelerinde Yapılacak Binalar Hakkında Esaslar. Resmi Gazete, Ankara, Türkiye.

TBEC (2018). Deprem Etkisi Altında Binaların Tasarımı için Esaslar. Resmi Gazete, Türkiye.

TS500 (1984). Requirements for Design and Construction of Reinforced Concrete Structures. Turkish Standards Institution (TSE), Ankara, Türkiye.

TS500 (2000). Requirements for Design and Construction of Reinforced Concrete Structures. Turkish Standards Institution (TSE), Ankara, Türkiye.