Seismic vulnerability of block E of the SOLCA Núcleo de Loja Hospital through a nonlinear dynamic analysis
Article Sidebar
Published:
Sep 1, 2026
Keywords:
Nonlinear models, dynamic analysis, seismic events, essential buildings.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Introduction. Health centers qualify as essential facilities. Consequently, their structures must remain fully operational both during and after major earthquakes to care for any casualties. Across Ecuador, numerous critical facilities, including hospitals, rely on outdated building codes from 1990 or earlier. This leaves many such structures highly vulnerable to seismic activity. Fortunately, recent technological leaps have transformed structural engineering. Today, engineers can deploy non-linear models to precisely simulate how structures and materials behave under seismic stress. Objective. This study evaluates the seismic performance of Block E at the SOLCA Loja Hospital when subjected to a medium-magnitude earthquake. Methodology. We assessed seismic vulnerability using analytical methods alongside computational modeling. Specifically, a non-linear dynamic analysis was conducted on Block E of the old SOLCA Loja Hospital. Built on August 23, 1962, the facility has been in service for 62 years. Over time, various horizontal and vertical expansions were structurally attached to increasing its operational capacity. Results. The findings indicate that this essential facility fails to meet current regulatory benchmarks. To address this, we propose specific structural reinforcements. These interventions aim to upgrade its seismic performance, bringing the existing structure into full compliance with modern safety standards. Conclusion. Evaluating the structural integrity of Ecuador's operational essential buildings is urgent. As demonstrated by this case study, older construction methods and aging designs fall short of the strict performance levels demanded by the nation's current building code. General field of study: Civil engineering. Specific field of study: Structures. Type of study: Original article.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Article Details
How to Cite
Jimbo Quevedo, D. V., & Maldonado Noboa, J. S. (2026). Seismic vulnerability of block E of the SOLCA Núcleo de Loja Hospital through a nonlinear dynamic analysis. ConcienciaDigital, 9(3), 149-171. https://doi.org/10.33262/concienciadigital.v9i3.3755
Section
Artículos
References
Augenti, N., Cosenza, E., Dolce, M., Manfredi, G., Masi, A., & Samela, L. (2004). Performance of school buildings during the 2002 Molise, Italy, earthquake. Earthquake Spectra, 20(1S), 257-270. https://doi.org/10.1193/1.1769374
Bruneau, M., & Reinhorn, A. (2007). Exploring the concept of seismic resilience for acute care facilities. Earthquake Spectra, 23(1), 41–62. https://doi.org/10.1193/1.2431396
Castillo Sarango, D. J. (2016). Vulnerabilidad sísmica del edificio principal del hospital Eugenio Espejo [Tesis de maestría, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador]. https://bibdigital.epn.edu.ec/handle/15000/19968
Chopra, A. K. (2014). Dinámica de estructuras. Pearson. https://hebmerma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Dinamica-de-Estructuras-4Ed-Anil-K.-Chopra-1.pdf
Fallah-Aliabadi, S., Ostadtaghizadeh, A., Ardalan, A., Eskandari, M., Fatemi, F., Mirjalili, M. R., & Khazai, B. (2020). Risk analysis of hospitals using GIS and HAZUS: a case study of Yazd County, Iran. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 47(101552), 101552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101552
Fauzan, Agista, G. A., Syandriaji, D., Al Jauhari, Z., & Suwarso, D. B. (2025). Seismic vulnerability assessment of a hospital building with and without retrofitting using RC shear walls. E3S Web of Conferences, 604, 15003. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202560415003
Garzón Andrade, A. L. (2020). Evaluación de la vulnerabilidad sísmica. Aplicación a edificios convencionales, de especial importancia y esenciales [Tesis de maestría, Escola de Camins, Barcelona, España]. https://upcommons.upc.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/3eedcbb9-bf40-409d-a730-521e7a8c0114/content
Ghaychi Afrouz, S., Farzampour, A., Hejazi, Z., & Mojarab, M. (2021). Evaluation of seismic vulnerability of hospitals in the Tehran metropolitan area. Buildings, 11(2), 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11020054
Hidalgo-Leiva, D. A., Schmidt-Díaz, V., & Cruz Azofeifa, M. (2016). Evaluación de la vulnerabilidad sísmica de hospitales de Costa Rica con la aplicación de índices de vulnerabilidad. Revista Internacional de Ingeniería de Estructuras, 21(4), 437-452. https://kerwa.ucr.ac.cr/server/api/core/bitstreams/47644bb4-65a0-41dc-a954-3050322e02f5/content
Kharazian, A., Guardiola-Villora, A., Galiana-Merino, J. J., Molina, S., Ortuño-Sáez, G., Soler-Llorens, J. L., Huesca-Tortosa, J. A., Gómez, I., & Montiel-López, D. (2025). Assessment of seismic vulnerability for a hospital building using field data and various numerical analyses considering bidirectional ground motion effects. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 15(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010053
Masi, A., Santarsiero, G., & Chiauzzi, L. (2012). Vulnerability assessment and seismic risk reduction strategies of hospitals in Basilicata region (Italy) [Conference: 15th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Lisboa]. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257817663_Vulnerability_assessment_and_seismic_risk_reduction_strategies_of_hospitals_in_Basilicata_region_Italy
Masi, A., Santarsiero, G., & Chiauzzi, L. (2014). Development of a seismic risk mitigation methodology for public buildings applied to the hospitals of Basilicata region (Southern Italy). Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 65, 30-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2014.05.011
Medina, C. D., & Placencia, P. (2017). Reducción de la vulnerabilidad en estructuras esenciales de hormigón armado: hospitales, situadas en zonas de alto peligro sísmico en el Ecuador. Revista Politécnica, 40(1), 35-44. https://revistapolitecnica.epn.edu.ec/ojs2/index.php/revista_politecnica2/article/view/744
Menekşe, A., & Camgöz Akdağ, H. (2022). Seismic risk analysis of hospital buildings: a novel interval-valued spherical fuzzy ARAS. Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.54560/jracr.v12i2.325
Ministerio de Desarrollo Urbano y Vivienda del Ecuador [MIDUVI]. (2014). NEC Norma Ecuatoriana de la Construcción. Peligro sísmico – Diseño sismo resistente. https://es.scribd.com/document/446420238/NEC-SE-DS-Peligro-Sismico-parte-1-jaime
Mohammad, A. F., Khan, R. A., Siddiqui, M. A., & Hammad, M. (2022). Case study: rapid seismic assessment of existing hospitals in Karachi †. Engineering Proceedings, 22(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2022022008
Newmark, N. M. (1959). A method of computation for structural dynamics. Journal of the Engineering Mechanics Division, 85(3), 67-94. https://doi.org/10.1061/jmcea3.0000098
Perrone, D., Aiello, M. A., Pecce, M., & Rossi, F. (2015). Rapid visual screening for seismic evaluation of RC Hospital buildings. Structures, 3, 57–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2015.03.002
Pisapia, A., Piluso, V., Montuori, R., Nastri, E., & Frattolillo, C. (2023). Seismic assessment and structural retrofitting of the Day-Hospital building “G. Pascale Foundation.” Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 13(3), 1663. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031663
Quinde Martínez, P. D., & Reinoso Angulo, E. (2016). Estudio de peligro sísmico de ecuador y propuesta de espectros de diseño para la ciudad de Cuenca. Revista Ingeniería Sísmica, (94), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.18867/ris.94.274
Raoufy, A. A., Kheyroddin, A., & Naderpour, H. (2025). Seismic vulnerability assessment of hospital buildings in Kabul city (Afghanistan) using applied technology council (ATC – 21). Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 26(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-024-01027-7
Rivadeneira, F., Segovia, M., Alvarado, A., Egred, J., Troncoso, L., Vaca, S., & Yepes, H. (2007). Breves fundamentos sobre los terremotos en el Ecuador. Corporación Editora Nacional. https://es.scribd.com/document/472260152/Breves-fundamentos-sobre-los-terremotos-en-el-Ecuador
Sáenz Azorsa, U. H., & Santana, R. (2023). Seismic vulnerability in essential buildings through analytical fragility curves. Revista Ingeniería de Construcción, 38(2). https://doi.org/10.7764/RIC.00072.21
Samadian, D., Ghafory-Ashtiany, M., Naderpour, H., & Eghbali, M. (2019). Seismic resilience evaluation based on vulnerability curves for existing and retrofitted typical RC school buildings. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 127(105844), 105844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105844
Uros, M., Prevolnik, S., Savor Novak, M., & Atalic, J. (2020). Seismic performance assessment of an existing RC wall building with irregular geometry: a case-study of a hospital in Croatia. Applied Sciences, 10(16), 5578. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10165578
Zizi, M., Bencivenga, P., Di Lauro, G., Laezza, G., Crisci, P., Frattolillo, C., & De Matteis, G. (2021). Seismic vulnerability assessment of existing italian hospitals: the case study of the national cancer institute “G. Pascale Foundation” of Naples. The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 15(1), 182–202. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874149502115010182
Bruneau, M., & Reinhorn, A. (2007). Exploring the concept of seismic resilience for acute care facilities. Earthquake Spectra, 23(1), 41–62. https://doi.org/10.1193/1.2431396
Castillo Sarango, D. J. (2016). Vulnerabilidad sísmica del edificio principal del hospital Eugenio Espejo [Tesis de maestría, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador]. https://bibdigital.epn.edu.ec/handle/15000/19968
Chopra, A. K. (2014). Dinámica de estructuras. Pearson. https://hebmerma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Dinamica-de-Estructuras-4Ed-Anil-K.-Chopra-1.pdf
Fallah-Aliabadi, S., Ostadtaghizadeh, A., Ardalan, A., Eskandari, M., Fatemi, F., Mirjalili, M. R., & Khazai, B. (2020). Risk analysis of hospitals using GIS and HAZUS: a case study of Yazd County, Iran. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 47(101552), 101552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101552
Fauzan, Agista, G. A., Syandriaji, D., Al Jauhari, Z., & Suwarso, D. B. (2025). Seismic vulnerability assessment of a hospital building with and without retrofitting using RC shear walls. E3S Web of Conferences, 604, 15003. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202560415003
Garzón Andrade, A. L. (2020). Evaluación de la vulnerabilidad sísmica. Aplicación a edificios convencionales, de especial importancia y esenciales [Tesis de maestría, Escola de Camins, Barcelona, España]. https://upcommons.upc.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/3eedcbb9-bf40-409d-a730-521e7a8c0114/content
Ghaychi Afrouz, S., Farzampour, A., Hejazi, Z., & Mojarab, M. (2021). Evaluation of seismic vulnerability of hospitals in the Tehran metropolitan area. Buildings, 11(2), 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11020054
Hidalgo-Leiva, D. A., Schmidt-Díaz, V., & Cruz Azofeifa, M. (2016). Evaluación de la vulnerabilidad sísmica de hospitales de Costa Rica con la aplicación de índices de vulnerabilidad. Revista Internacional de Ingeniería de Estructuras, 21(4), 437-452. https://kerwa.ucr.ac.cr/server/api/core/bitstreams/47644bb4-65a0-41dc-a954-3050322e02f5/content
Kharazian, A., Guardiola-Villora, A., Galiana-Merino, J. J., Molina, S., Ortuño-Sáez, G., Soler-Llorens, J. L., Huesca-Tortosa, J. A., Gómez, I., & Montiel-López, D. (2025). Assessment of seismic vulnerability for a hospital building using field data and various numerical analyses considering bidirectional ground motion effects. Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 15(1), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010053
Masi, A., Santarsiero, G., & Chiauzzi, L. (2012). Vulnerability assessment and seismic risk reduction strategies of hospitals in Basilicata region (Italy) [Conference: 15th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Lisboa]. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257817663_Vulnerability_assessment_and_seismic_risk_reduction_strategies_of_hospitals_in_Basilicata_region_Italy
Masi, A., Santarsiero, G., & Chiauzzi, L. (2014). Development of a seismic risk mitigation methodology for public buildings applied to the hospitals of Basilicata region (Southern Italy). Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 65, 30-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2014.05.011
Medina, C. D., & Placencia, P. (2017). Reducción de la vulnerabilidad en estructuras esenciales de hormigón armado: hospitales, situadas en zonas de alto peligro sísmico en el Ecuador. Revista Politécnica, 40(1), 35-44. https://revistapolitecnica.epn.edu.ec/ojs2/index.php/revista_politecnica2/article/view/744
Menekşe, A., & Camgöz Akdağ, H. (2022). Seismic risk analysis of hospital buildings: a novel interval-valued spherical fuzzy ARAS. Journal of Risk Analysis and Crisis Response, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.54560/jracr.v12i2.325
Ministerio de Desarrollo Urbano y Vivienda del Ecuador [MIDUVI]. (2014). NEC Norma Ecuatoriana de la Construcción. Peligro sísmico – Diseño sismo resistente. https://es.scribd.com/document/446420238/NEC-SE-DS-Peligro-Sismico-parte-1-jaime
Mohammad, A. F., Khan, R. A., Siddiqui, M. A., & Hammad, M. (2022). Case study: rapid seismic assessment of existing hospitals in Karachi †. Engineering Proceedings, 22(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2022022008
Newmark, N. M. (1959). A method of computation for structural dynamics. Journal of the Engineering Mechanics Division, 85(3), 67-94. https://doi.org/10.1061/jmcea3.0000098
Perrone, D., Aiello, M. A., Pecce, M., & Rossi, F. (2015). Rapid visual screening for seismic evaluation of RC Hospital buildings. Structures, 3, 57–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2015.03.002
Pisapia, A., Piluso, V., Montuori, R., Nastri, E., & Frattolillo, C. (2023). Seismic assessment and structural retrofitting of the Day-Hospital building “G. Pascale Foundation.” Applied Sciences (Switzerland), 13(3), 1663. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031663
Quinde Martínez, P. D., & Reinoso Angulo, E. (2016). Estudio de peligro sísmico de ecuador y propuesta de espectros de diseño para la ciudad de Cuenca. Revista Ingeniería Sísmica, (94), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.18867/ris.94.274
Raoufy, A. A., Kheyroddin, A., & Naderpour, H. (2025). Seismic vulnerability assessment of hospital buildings in Kabul city (Afghanistan) using applied technology council (ATC – 21). Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, 26(1), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42107-024-01027-7
Rivadeneira, F., Segovia, M., Alvarado, A., Egred, J., Troncoso, L., Vaca, S., & Yepes, H. (2007). Breves fundamentos sobre los terremotos en el Ecuador. Corporación Editora Nacional. https://es.scribd.com/document/472260152/Breves-fundamentos-sobre-los-terremotos-en-el-Ecuador
Sáenz Azorsa, U. H., & Santana, R. (2023). Seismic vulnerability in essential buildings through analytical fragility curves. Revista Ingeniería de Construcción, 38(2). https://doi.org/10.7764/RIC.00072.21
Samadian, D., Ghafory-Ashtiany, M., Naderpour, H., & Eghbali, M. (2019). Seismic resilience evaluation based on vulnerability curves for existing and retrofitted typical RC school buildings. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 127(105844), 105844. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105844
Uros, M., Prevolnik, S., Savor Novak, M., & Atalic, J. (2020). Seismic performance assessment of an existing RC wall building with irregular geometry: a case-study of a hospital in Croatia. Applied Sciences, 10(16), 5578. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10165578
Zizi, M., Bencivenga, P., Di Lauro, G., Laezza, G., Crisci, P., Frattolillo, C., & De Matteis, G. (2021). Seismic vulnerability assessment of existing italian hospitals: the case study of the national cancer institute “G. Pascale Foundation” of Naples. The Open Civil Engineering Journal, 15(1), 182–202. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874149502115010182