Abstract: “India is divided in to four seismic zones ,viz.,zone II( moderate) to zone V (Very Severe). In each of these zones , rural areas exist and the rural buildings are unique in pattern to that particular zone . Many of these rural buildings are non-engineered and are always the ‘worst hit’ during devastating earthquakes . However, it is interesting to note that some of these buildings which follow traditional construction patterns and practices , popularly known as vernacular constructions , have withstood the power of earthquakes and are time tested. In this work , the results of a parametric study conducted on the seismic performance of typical rural houses of India , are presented . The study involved the analysis of representative numerical models of typical rural buildings of various geometries , materials and patterns . These representative models are the outcome of the several field investigations and review of the extensive standard literature available on construction practices ad”

Keywords: Rural buildings , Vernacular Constructions , Seismic Performance , Parametric Studies