This talk explores recent advancements in seismic risk assessment for existing structures, drawing on insights from both analytical modelling and empirical data collected from past earthquakes. A key focus is the development and application of fragility functions, which are crucial for quantifying the vulnerability of buildings to seismic hazards. Traditional approaches to developing these functions often rely on single-parameter intensity measures (IMs) and can have limitations in capturing the complexities of structural response. The presentation will discuss:

·       The development of analytical fragility functions for non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with masonry infills, common in the Italian peninsula and Southern Europe, using detailed numerical models.

·       The use of empirical data from past earthquakes, such as the L’Aquila 2009 and Umbria-Marche 1997 events, to validate analytical models and to develop empirical fragility functions.

·       An alternative approach to vulnerability modelling based on storey loss functions (SLFs), which allows for a more accurate computation of economic losses and their sources, including contributions from floor acceleration-based losses. This method enables a disaggregation of losses by element groups (structural, non-structural, and contents) and by individual storeys, providing a more holistic view of risk.