Consistent floor response spectra for performance-based seismic design of nonstructural elements

The achievement of adequate performance objectives for buildings under increasing seismic intensities is not only related to the performance of structural members but also to the behavior of nonstructural elements. The need to properly design nonstructural elements for earthquakes has been largely demonstrated in the last few years and has become an important objective within the earthquake engineering community. A crucial aspect in the proper design of nonstructural elements is the definition of the seismic demand in terms of both absolute acceleration and relative displacement floor response spectra. In the first part of this study, relative displacement and absolute acceleration floor response spectra were computed for four reinforced concrete moment-resisting archetype frames via dynamic time-history analyses and were compared with floor response spectra predicted by means of two recent simplified methodologies available in the literature. It was observed that one of the existing methodologies is generally unable to predict consistent absolute acceleration and relative displacement floor response spectra. An improved procedure is developed for estimating consistent floor response spectra for building structures subjected to low and medium-high seismic intensities. This new procedure improves the predictions of a relative displacement floor response spectrum by constraining its ordinates at long nonstructural periods to the expected peak absolute displacement of the floor. The resulting acceleration and relative displacement response spectra are then consistently related by the well-known pseudo-spectral relationship over the entire nonstructural period range. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology was appraised against floor response spectra computed from nonlinear time-history analyses.     

长春光大银行主体钢结构在罕遇地震作用下的时程反应分析

分别采用基于塑性铰法的空间梁柱单元分析程序和简化的DRAIN-20分析程序，对其主体巨型钢框架结构进行了考虑双重非线性的罕遇地震作用下的时程反应分析。分析中使用了三条典型地震波和一条当地人工地震波，分别得到了顶层位移和加速度时程曲线、层间位移包络值和塑性铰出现的位置与先后顺序。分析结果表明结构在体系设计上是合理的和在大震作用下具有足够的安全度。     

Seismic demand on light acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural components in European reinforced concrete buildings

In this paper, a parametric study is conducted in order to evaluate the seismic demand on light acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural components caused by frequent earthquakes. The study is motivated by the inconsistent approach of current building codes to the design of nonstructural components; the extensive nonstructural damage recorded after recent low‐intensity earthquakes also encouraged such a study. A set of reinforced concrete frame structures with different number of stories, that is, 1 to 10 stories, are selected and designed according to Eurocode 8. The structures are subjected to a set of frequent earthquakes, that is, 63% probability of exceedance in 50 years. Dynamic nonlinear analyses are performed on the reference structures in order to assess the accuracy of the equations to predict seismic forces acting on nonstructural components and systems in Eurocode. It is concluded that the Eurocode equations underestimate the acceleration demand on nonstructural components for a wide range of periods, especially in the vicinity of the higher mode periods of vibration of the reference structures; for periods sufficiently larger than the fundamental period of the structure, instead, the Eurocode formulation gives a good approximation of the floor spectra. Finally, a novel formulation is proposed for an easy implementation in future building codes based on the actual Eurocode provisions. The proposed formulation gives a good estimation of the floor spectral accelerations and is able to envelope the floor spectral peaks owing to the higher modes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of seismic force requirements for buildings in Taiwan

This paper describes static and dynamic procedures to calculate seismic demand specified by the current seismic design code for buildings in Taiwan,which was issued in 2005.For design levels with a return period of475 years,the design spectral response acceleration can be developed for general sites,near-fault sites and Taipei Basin.In addition,in order to prevent building collapse during extremely large earthquakes and yielding of structural components and elements during frequent small earthquakes,the ...     

高强度地震下带钢避难建筑抗震设计

为了提高带钢避难建筑的抗震性能,对高强度地震下带钢避难建筑实施抗震设计。设置高强度地震下带钢避难所的抗震设防要求,给出不同地震情况下地震避难所设防加速度值以及地震避难所地震影响系数最高值,通过SAP2000分析软件对带钢地震避难建筑结构实施动力弹塑性时程研究,选择合理的塑性铰参数值,通过在建筑周围设置钢支撑的策略对带钢避难建筑实施设计,分析高强度地震下的带钢避难建筑的抗震性能。实验结果说明,采用所提设计方法下的带钢避难建筑在大震情况下的反应优,延性较强,在不同地震波作用下的水平方向位移角满足抗震设防规范。     

Performance-based seismic design of nonstructural building components: The next frontier of earthquake engineering

With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering, harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural components becomes vital. Even if the structural components of a building achieve a continuous or immediate occupancy performance level after a seismic event, failure of architectural, mechanical or electrical components can lower the performance level of the entire building system. This reduction in performance caused by the vulnerability of nonstructural components has been observed during recent earthquakes worldwide. Moreover, nonstructural damage has limited the functionality of critical facilities, such as hospitals, following major seismic events. The investment in nonstructural components and building contents is far greater than that of structural components and framing. Therefore, it is not surprising that in many past earthquakes, losses from damage to nonstructural components have exceeded losses from structural damage. Furthermore, the failure of nonstructural components can become a safety hazard or can hamper the safe movement of occupants evacuating buildings, or of rescue workers entering buildings. In comparison to structural components and systems, there is relatively limited information on the seismic design of nonstructural components. Basic research work in this area has been sparse, and the available codes and guidelines are usually, for the most part, based on past experiences, engineering judgment and intuition, rather than on objective experimental and analytical results. Often, design engineers are forced to start almost from square one after each earthquake event: to observe what went wrong and to try to prevent repetitions. This is a consequence of the empirical nature of current seismic regulations and guidelines for nonstructural components. This review paper summarizes current knowledge on the seismic design and analysis of nonstructural building components, identifying major knowledge gaps that will need to be filled by future research. Furthermore, considering recent trends in earthquake engineering, the paper explores how performance-based seismic design might be conceived for nonstructural components, drawing on recent developments made in the field of seismic design and hinting at the specific considerations required for nonstructural components.     

Performance-based seismic design of nonstructural building components:The next frontier of earthquake engineering

With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering,harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural components becomes vital. Even if the structural components of a building achieve a continuous or immediate occupancy performance level after a seismic event,failure of architectural,mechanical or electrical components can lower the performance level of the entire building system. This reduction in performance caused by the vulnerability of nonstructural components has been observed during recent earthquakes worldwide. Moreover,nonstructural damage has limited the functionality of critical facilities,such as hospitals,following major seismic events. The investment in nonstructural components and building contents is far greater than that of structural components and framing. Therefore,it is not surprising that in many past earthquakes,losses from damage to nonstructural components have exceeded losses from structural damage. Furthermore,the failure of nonstructural components can become a safety hazard or can hamper the safe movement of occupants evacuating buildings,or of rescue workers entering buildings. In comparison to structural components and systems,there is relatively limited information on the seismic design of nonstructural components. Basic research work in this area has been sparse,and the available codes and guidelines are usually,for the most part,based on past experiences,engineering judgment and intuition,rather than on objective experimental and analytical results. Often,design engineers are forced to start almost from square one after each earthquake event: to observe what went wrong and to try to prevent repetitions. This is a consequence of the empirical nature of current seismic regulations and guidelines for nonstructural components. This review paper summarizes current knowledge on the seismic design and analysis of nonstructural building components,identifying major knowledge gaps that will need to be filled by future research. Furthermore,considering recent trends in earthquake engineering,the paper explores how performance-based seismic design might be conceived for nonstructural components,drawing on recent developments made in the field of seismic design and hinting at the specific considerations required for nonstructural components.     

Comparative response assessment of minimally compliant low‐rise conventional and base‐isolated steel frames

In this study, the multi‐intensity seismic response of code‐designed conventional and base‐isolated steel frame buildings is evaluated using nonlinear response history analysis. The results of hazard and structural response analysis for three‐story braced‐frame buildings are presented in this paper. Three‐dimensional models for both buildings are created and seismic response is assessed for three scenario earthquakes. The response history analysis results indicate that the design objectives are met and the performance of the isolated building is superior to the conventional building in the design event. For the Maximum Considered Earthquake, isolation leads to reductions in story drifts and floor accelerations relative to the conventional building. However, the extremely high displacement demands of the isolation system could not be accommodated under normal circumstances, and creative approaches should be developed to control displacements in the MCE. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intensity measures for probabilistic assessment of non‐structural components acceleration demand

A fundamental issue in the framework of seismic probabilistic risk analysis is the choice of ground motion intensity measures (IMs). Based on the floor response spectrum method, the present contribution focuses on the ability of IMs to predict non‐structural components (NSCs) horizontal acceleration demand. A large panel of IMs is examined and a new IM, namely equipment relative average spectral acceleration (E‐ASA_R), is proposed for the purpose of NSCs acceleration demand prediction. The IMs efficiency and sufficiency comparisons are based on (i) the use of a large dataset of recorded earthquake ground motions; (ii) numerical analyses performed on three‐dimensional numerical models, representing actual structural wall and frame buildings; and (iii) systematic statistical analysis of the results. From the comparative study, the herein introduced E‐ASA_R shows high efficiency with respect to the estimation of maximum floor response spectra ordinates. Such efficiency is particularly remarkable in the case of structural wall buildings. Besides, the sufficiency and the simple formulation allowing the use of existing ground motion prediction models make the E‐ASA_R a promising IMs for seismic probabilistic risk assessment. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Acceleration response modification factors for nonstructural components attached to inelastic moment‐resisting frame structures

A statistical analysis of the peak acceleration demands for nonstructural components (NSCs) supported on a variety of stiff and flexible inelastic regular moment‐resisting frame structures with periods from 0.3 to 3.0 s exposed to 40 far‐field ground motions is presented. Peak component acceleration (PCA) demands were quantified based on the floor response spectrum (FRS) method without considering dynamic interaction effects. This study evaluated the main factors that influence the amplification or decrease of FRS values caused by inelasticity in the primary structure in three distinct spectral regions namely long‐period, fundamental‐period, and short‐period region. The amplification or decrease of peak elastic acceleration demands depends on the location of the NSC in the supporting structure, periods of the component and building, damping ratio of the component, and level of inelasticity of the supporting structure. While FRS values at the initial modal periods of the supporting structure are reduced due to inelastic action in the primary structure, the region between the modal periods experiences an increase in PCA demands. A parameter denoted as acceleration response modification factor (R_acc) was proposed to quantify this reduction/increase in PCA demands. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aseismic design implications of near-fault san fernando earthquake records

Near-fault records of the 1971 San Fernando earthquake contain severe, long duration acceleration pulses which result in unusually large ground velocity increments. A review of these records along with the results of available theoretical studies of near-fault ground motions indicates that such acceleration pulses may be characteristic of near-fault sites in general. The results of an analytical study of a building severely damaged during the San Fernando earthquake indicate that such severe, long duration acceleration pulses were the cause of the main features of the observed structural damage. The implications of such pulses on current aseismic design methods, particularly those used to establish design earthquakes, are examined for buildings located near potential earthquake faults. Analytical studies of the non-linear dynamic response of single and multiple degree-of-freedom systems to several near-fault records, as well as to a more standard accelerogram, indicate that at near-fault sites: (a) very large displacement ductilities may result for current levels of code design forces; (b) smoothed elastic design response spectra should reflect the larger ground velocities that may occur; and (c) peak inelastic response cannot reliably be inferred from elastic response predictions.     

基于复杂网络的建筑物强震下抗毁性估计模型

城市所处的地震危险性环境和城市建筑物的易损性是影响复杂网络建筑物强震环境下抗毁能力的关键因素。由于现阶段对建筑物抗震抗毁能力的评定仍存在一定困难,对建筑物震害程度测评只能通过强震之后建筑物受破坏的程度进行评估,且评估结果不够精准,因此提出基于复杂网络的建筑物抗震能力的评估方法。考虑到地震中的危险性因素,以地面峰值加速度为参数对强震环境下复杂网络建筑物抗毁性进行测评和分析,在此基础上提出对复杂网络下建筑物的防震抗毁能力进行评估的相对建筑物抗震性能指数,并结合建筑物抗震能力评估标准确定其抗震能力水平;再进行仿真实验加以测量,并结合震害经验,证实该方法的有效性。     

An alternative approach for the seismic rehabilitation of existing RC buildings using seismic isolation

Usually, buildings with seismic isolation are designed to comply with an operational building performance level after strong earthquakes. This approach, however, may limit the use of seismic isolation for the seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings with low lateral strength or substandard details, because it often requires invasive strengthening measures in the superstructure or the use of expensive custom‐made devices. In this paper, an alternative approach for the seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings with seismic isolation, based on the acceptance of limited plastic deformations in the superstructure under strong earthquakes, is proposed and then applied to a real case study, represented by a four‐storey RC frame building. Nonlinear response‐time histories analyses of an accurate model of the case‐study building are carried out to evaluate the seismic performances of the structure, comparing different rehabilitation strategies with and without seismic isolation. Initial costs of the intervention and possible (future) repair costs are then estimated. Based on the results of this study, values of the behavior factor (i.e. response modification factor) higher than those adopted in the current codes for base‐isolated buildings are tentatively proposed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-hazard performance assessment of a transfer-plate high-rise building

Many urban areas are located in regions of moderate seismicity and are subjected to strong wind. Buildings in these regions are often designed without seismic provisions. As a result, in the event of an earthquake, the potential for damage and loss of lives may not be known. In this paper, the performance of a typical high-rise building with a thick transfer plate (TP), which is one type of building structure commonly found in Hong Kong, is assessed against both earthquake and wind hazards. Seismic- and wind-resistant performance objectives are fi rst reviewed based on relevant codes and design guidelines for high-rise buildings. After a brief introduction of wind-resistant design of the building, various methodologies, including equivalent static load analysis (ESLA), response spectrum analysis (RSA), pushover analysis (POA), linear and nonlinear time-history analysis (LTHA and NTHA), are employed to assess the seismic performance of the building when subjected to frequent earthquakes, design based earthquakes and maximum credible earthquakes. The effects of design wind and seismic action with a common 50-year return period are also compared. The results indicate that most performance objectives can be satisfi ed by the building, but there are some objectives, such as inter-story drift ratio, that cannot be achieved when subjected to the frequent earthquakes. It is concluded that in addition to wind, seismic action may need to be explicitly considered in the design of buildings in regions of moderate seismicity.     

On the design and seismic response of RC frame buildings designed with Eurocode 8

Performance-Based Seismic Design is now widely recognized as the pre-eminent seismic design and assessment methodology for building structures. In recognition of this, seismic codes may require that buildings achieve multiple performance objectives such as withstanding moderate, yet frequently occurring earthquakes with minimal structural and non-structural damage, while withstanding severe, but rare earthquakes without collapse and loss of life. These objectives are presumed to be satisfied by some codes if the force-based design procedures are followed. This paper investigates the efficacy of the Eurocode 8 force-based design provisions with respect to RC frame building design and expected seismic performance. Four, eight, and 16-storey moment frame buildings were designed and analyzed using the code modal response spectrum analysis provisions. Non-linear time-history analyses were subsequently performed to determine the simulated seismic response of the structures and to validate the Eurocode 8 force-based designs. The results indicate the design of flexural members in medium-to-long period structures is not significantly influenced by the choice of effective member stiffness; however, calculated interstorey drift demands are significantly affected. This finding was primarily attributed to the code’s enforcement of a minimum spectral ordinate on the design spectrum. Furthermore, design storey forces and interstorey drift demand estimates (and therefore damage), obtained by application of the code force-based design procedure varied substantially from those found through non-linear time-history analysis. Overall, the results suggest that though the Eurocode 8 may yield life-safe designs, the seismic performance of frame buildings of the same type and ductility class can be highly non-uniform.     

Performance of non-structural elements in RC buildings during the L��Aquila, 2009 earthquake

In Italy infills and partitions (non-structural elements) are typically made up of hollow brick masonry, disposed in one or two parallel vertical walls. Many studies have analysed their role on the seismic behaviour of moment resisting framed RC buildings and many seismic codes, all over the world, have provided specific additional measures for them. During the Abruzzo seismic sequence, non-structural damage in RC buildings, both private and public, was extensive, varying from small cracks to collapse, along with minor or no damage to structural elements. This damage involved a number of buildings, both old and recently completed, determining heavy socio-economic consequences, including human casualties, loss of building functionality (particularly important in case of strategic constructions), and unusable buildings. In this paper a review of the most frequent damage patterns is performed, aimed at identifying the main causes of damage and linking them to commonly adopted construction rules. For this purpose, local and global structural configurations frequently exhibiting non-structural damage are described, aside from out-of-plane and in-plane failures. Furthermore, a review of code provisions on non structural elements has been performed in the paper making reference to the most prominent current seismic codes and, finally, some design and construction rules are suggested.     

Floor response spectra in RC frame structures designed according to Eurocode 8

Nonstructural components (NSCs) should be subjected to a careful and rational seismic design, in order to reduce the economic loss and to avoid threats to the life safety, as well as what concerns structural elements. The design of NSCs is based on the evaluation of the maximum inertia force, which is related to the floor spectral accelerations. The question arises as to whether Eurocode 8 is able to predict actual floor response spectral accelerations occurring in structures designed according to Eurocode 8. A parametric study is conducted on five RC frame structures in order to evaluate the floor response spectra. The structures, designed according to Eurocode 8, are subjected to a set of earthquakes, compatible with the design response spectrum. Time-history analyses are performed both on elastic and inelastic models of the considered structures. Eurocode formulation for the evaluation of the seismic demand on NSCs does not well fit the numerical results. Some comments on the target spectrum provided by AC 156 for the seismic qualification of NSC are also included.     

Seismic performance of RC school buildings after 2011 Van earthquakes

School buildings have been classified by many of the design codes as important buildings, which have to withstand the earthquake excitations without any or with minor structural damages, and special care has to be given in their design and construction phases. This paper mainly aims to investigate the seismic performance of reinforced-concrete (RC) school buildings after 2011 Van earthquakes. The seismic performances of two damaged RC school buildings located in the earthquake-affected region are studied. First, the capacities of the selected buildings are assessed using nonlinear static procedures, and then, nonlinear dynamic time history analyses are performed to evaluate the seismic performances of the selected RC school buildings. Reasons for the observed damages are discussed. Further, recommendations are provided from the viewpoint of enhancing the structural capacity of the heavily damaged school building. As a result, to get an idea about the ductility demands imposed on the buildings, spectral acceleration values are compared with the seismic coefficients of the code that the buildings were adapted to. It can be concluded that the construction quality and detailing of the reinforcement are the key issues affecting the seismic performance of RC school buildings.     

Protecting vibration-sensitive contents: an investigation of floor accelerations in seismically isolated buildings

For the public welfare and safety, buildings such as hospitals, industrial facilities, and technology centers need to remain functional at all times; even during and after major earthquakes. The values of these buildings themselves may be insignificant when compared to the cost of loss of operations and business continuity. Seismic isolation aims to protect both the integrity and the contents of a structure. Since the tolerable acceleration levels are relatively low for continued services of vibration-sensitive high-tech contents, a better understanding of acceleration response behaviors of seismically isolated buildings is necessary. In an effort to shed light to this issue, following are investigated via bi-directional time history analyses of seismically isolated benchmark buildings subject to historical earthquakes: (i) the distribution of peak floor accelerations of seismically isolated buildings subject to seismic excitations in order to find out which floors are likely to sustain the largest accelerations; (ii) the influence of equivalent linear modeling of isolation systems on the floor accelerations in order to find out the range of possible errors introduced by this type of modeling; (iii) the role of superstructure damping in reducing floor accelerations of seismically isolated buildings with flexible superstructures in order to find out whether increasing the superstructure damping helps reducing floor accelerations notably. Influences of isolation system characteristics and superstructure flexibility are both taken into account.     

主体结构隔震的二次结构减振分析

二次结构常常在大震甚至中小地震中发生损坏或中断工作，急需寻找安全有效的设计方法。对一幢典型结构，考虑不同场地条件、主体结构隔震以及二次结构不同阻尼比的影响，计算各层的楼面绝对加速度与相对位移反应谱。分析表明，主体结构隔震或同时增大二次结构阻尼是取得二次结构较好减振效果的有效途径，主体结构的隔震阻尼不宜太大，主体结构隔震后二次结构对所在楼层位置的敏感性大大降低。