The reliability optimization process in earthquake
engineering requires that the expected present value of the total cost is minimized, including the initial cost as well
as the damage costs caused by earthquakes, which include indirect costs. One of
these costs is concerned with how much society is willing to invest for
preserving human life. Ethical principles, on which to base the assessment of
this cost, are presented and discussed in this work. Individual and social
values are analyzed. Finally, an optimal seismic design coefficient with the
results obtained is calculated for a site with low seismicity.
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