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.     

室内管道系统抗震研究综述

根据最新震害统计资料发现,非结构构件在地震中造成的经济损失远大于结构构件。非结构构件按照地震反应特征可分为位移敏感型构件和加速度敏感型构件。其中,位移敏感型构件的破坏多受层间位移角控制,主要采用拟静力试验进行研究;加速度敏感型构件的破坏多受楼面加速度的控制,主要采用振动台试验进行研究。室内管道系统是非结构构件的重要组成部分,室内管道系统中的立管和水平管分别属于位移敏感型和加速度敏感型构件。本文系统地论述了近年来国内外学者开展的关于室内管道系统的抗震研究工作,并对室内管道系统下一步的研究工作提出了建议。     

Bench–shelf system dynamic characteristics and their effects on equipment and contents

Economic losses during past earthquakes are strongly associated with damage and failure to nonstructural equipment and contents. Among the vast types of nonstructural elements, one important category, is scientific equipment in biological or chemical laboratories. These equipment are often mounted on heavy ceramic bench‐tops of bench–shelf systems, which in turn may amplify the dynamic motions imposed. To investigate the seismic response of these types of systems, a series of shake table and field experiments were conducted considering different representative bench and shelf‐mounted equipment and contents. Results from shake table experiments indicate that these equipment are generally sliding‐dominated. In addition, the bench–shelf system is observed to be very stiff and when lightly loaded, has a fundamental frequency between 10 and 16 Hz. An approximate 50% reduction in the first and second fundamental frequencies is observed considering practical loading conditions. Insight into a broader range of system response is provided by conducting eigenvalue and time history analyses. Non‐linear regression through the numerical data indicate acceleration amplification ratios Ω range from 2.6 to 1.4 and from 4.3 to 1.6, for fixed–fixed and pinned–pinned conditions, respectively. Both the experimental and numerical results support the importance of determining the potential dynamic amplification of motion in the context of accurately determining the maximum sliding displacement of support equipment and contents. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic response of floor-anchored nonstructural components fastened with yielding elements

Failure of nonstructural components during an earthquake can lead to structure functionality loss, cause widespread property damage, and pose a life-safety threat to the occupants. Current code provisions for floor-anchored components aim to minimize the life safety threat by specifying lateral force demands and anchoring requirements. These code requirements are based on a simplified equation that does not fully consider the contribution of the attachment to the overall component dynamic response. Previous results from shaking-table tests of anchored components suggest that the component attachment is an important parameter that determines its dynamic properties. For this study, a nonstructural experimental model was attached via several attachment designs to a concrete slab and tested on a shaking table to evaluate this contribution. The attachments were dimensioned based on a capacity design approach, such that they would be the weakest element in the force path while providing a yielding mechanism. The attachment designs provide different plastic mechanisms that control the displacement ductility in the response of the component. This paper focuses on the contribution of the attachment to the dynamic response and seismic force demand on the component. The experimental results demonstrate that the selected attachment properties govern the boundary conditions of the nonstructural component and strongly influence its dynamic response. The more flexible attachments sustained large deformations, leading to tensile membrane action and enhanced tensile strength in the attachments. Consequently, the ductile attachments did not result in reduced seismic loads in the nonstructural components.     

双向地震波作用下巨子型有控结构建筑的隔震设计

为了增强巨子型有控结构建筑的动力特性,提升其稳定性,设计双向地震波作用下建筑有控结构。采用3种磁流变阻尼器(MRD)与滑移隔震混合控制结构构成单体建筑有控结构,其包括巨结构和子结构,并建立该有控结构的动力分析模型。在动力分析模型中输入水平和竖向地震,得到模型的竖向和水平滑动状态运动微分方程,依据这两个方程采用自适应模糊神经网络优化动力分析模型,构建优化模型。从优化模型出发,通过实例实验分析得出,优化设计双向地震波作用下建筑有控结构时,在其上部结构层间和隔离层各安装一个MRD,可确保优化设计后的有控结构在不同双向地震工况下的地震反应控制效果最佳,且有控结构在双向地震工况2下,结构第一层、中间三层以及顶层的加速度和位移的时程曲线走向一致,且差距微小;同时有控结构的巨结构顶层侧移响应随着子结构刚度增加而提高,动力特性没有明显的变化,子结构随着其自身刚度增加顶层侧移响应表现稳定,子结构动力特性增强。     

单点支撑非结构构件抗震减震研究综述

首先介绍了非结构构件的分类;评述了单点支撑非结构构件抗震计算方法,指出等效侧力法缺乏系统的理论和实验研究支持,而楼面反应谱法不便于工程人员应用;讨论了单点支撑非结构构件隔震问题的特殊性和研究现状;最后指出对于一般单点支撑非结构构件,除了探索简单准确的抗震计算方法还应注重制定有效的构造措施;对于重要设备,应该在充分考虑设备隔震减震特殊性的基础上开发专门的隔震减震器,并应重视半主动,主动控制技术应用的研究。     

Multiply supported secondary systems part I: Response spectrum analysis

A response spectrum procedure is developed for seismic analysis of multiply supported secondary systems. The formulation is based on the random vibration analysis of structural systems subjected to correlated inputs applied at several supports. For a proper response spectrum analysis of a multiple support system, the support inputs are required to be defined in terms of the auto and cross pseudo-acceleration and relative velocity floor response spectra. Also information about the floor displacements and velocities as well as their correlations is required. The response of the secondary system is expressed as a combination of the dynamic and pseudo-static response components. The dynamic component is associated with the inertial effects of the support accelerations, whereas the pseudo-static component is due to the displacement of the supports relative to each other. Herein, the correlation between these two parts of the response is included through a term called the cross response component. Each of these components of the response can be calculated by a response spectrum method. The application of the proposed method is demonstrated by numerical examples.     

Seismic force demands on acceleration-sensitive nonstructural components: a state-of-the-art review

Nonstructural components(NSCs)are parts,elements,and subsystems that are not part of the primary loadbearing system of building structures but are subject to seismic loading.Damage to NSCs may disrupt the functionality of buildings and result in significant economic losses,injuries,and casualties.In past decades,extensive studies have been conducted on the seismic performance and seismic design methods of NSCs.As the input for the seismic design of NSCs,floor response spectra(FRS)have attracted the attention of researchers worldwide.This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of FRS.Different methods for generating FRS are summarized and compared with those in current seismic design codes.A detailed review of the parameters influencing the FRS is presented.These parameters include the characteristics of ground motion excitation,supporting building and NSCs.The floor acceleration response and the FRS obtained from experimental studies and field observations during earthquakes are also discussed.Three RC frames are used in a case study to compare the peak floor acceleration(PFA)and FRS calculated from time history analyses(THA)with that generated using current seismic design codes and different methods in the literature.Major knowledge gaps are identified,including uncertainties associated with developing FRS,FRS generation methods for different types of buildings,the need for comprehensive studies on absolute acceleration,relative velocity,and relative displacement FRS,and the calibration of FRS by field observations during earthquakes.     

Performance of masonry enclosure walls: lessons learned from recent earthquakes

This paper discusses the issue of performance requirements and construction criteria for masonry enclosure and infill walls.Vertical building enclosures in European countries are very often constituted by non-load-bearing masonry walls, using horizontally perforated clay bricks.These walls are generally supported and confined by a reinforced concrete frame structure of columns and beams/slabs.Since these walls are commonly considered to be nonstructural elements and their influence on the structural response is ignored,their consideration in the design of structures as well as their connection to the adjacent structural elements is frequently negligent or insufficiently detailed.As a consequence,nonstructural elements,as for wall enclosures,are relatively sensitive to drift and acceleration demands when buildings are subjected to seismic actions. Many international standards and technical documents stress the need for design acceptability criteria for nonstructural elements,however they do not specifically indicate how to prevent collapse and severe cracking,and how to enhance the overall stability in the case of moderate to high seismic loading.Furthermore,a review of appropriate measures to improve enclosure wall performance and both in-plane and out-of-plane integrity under seismic actions is addressed.     

四种地下结构抗震设计简化分析方法对比

在地下结构抗震设计简化分析方法中,强制反应位移法将土层变形施加在有限元模型侧边界模拟地震作用,反应加速度法将土层加速度施加到整个有限元模型上模拟地震作用,此外还有仅将土层加速度施加到土层模型上模拟地震作用的方法。上述方法均规避了反应位移法中关于弹簧刚度的取值问题,提高了计算效率。本文以1个双跨箱形结构为例,用动力时程分析的计算结果作为校核,分析了强制反应位移法、反应加速度法和仅将土层加速度施加到土体中的简化分析方法在不同侧边距条件下的计算精度,再结合常用的反应位移法,对比分析了4种简化分析方法的误差。分析结果表明:使用强制反应位移法时,侧边距取为1倍结构宽度导致的误差最小,反应加速度法和仅在土体施加加速度的简化方法对侧边距取值不敏感,反应位移法在角点造成的误差最大。     

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.     

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.     

In‐plane quasi‐static cyclic tests of nonstructural lightweight steel drywall partitions for seismic performance evaluation

An experimental program was performed for evaluating the seismic response and fragilities of nonstructural lightweight steel drywall partitions, also considering the interaction with structural elements and other nonstructural building components, ie, outdoor façade walls. Therefore, in‐plane quasi‐static reversed cyclic tests were carried out on 8 specimens of indoor partition walls infilled in a frame and on 4 specimens of indoor partition walls connected at its ends with transversal outdoor façade walls. Constructive parameters under investigation include type of connections used for connecting the indoor partition walls to the surrounding elements, stud spacing, type of sheathing panels, and type of jointing finishing. The effect of the constructive parameters on the lateral response in secant stiffness and strength is examined. Furthermore, the main damage phenomena observed during the tests are reported and associated to 3 damage limit states distinguished for the required repair level for the tested partition walls. Fragility curves are used for the experimental assessment of seismic fragility of the tested specimens, in accordance with the interstorey drift limits required by the European code. Finally, the quantitative estimation of the repair action costs starting from the damage observation is also developed. The obtained results could be considered a starting point for developing the in‐plane seismic design assisted by testing of lightweight steel drywall partition walls.     

Comparative response and performance of base‐isolated and fixed‐base structures

A building with a seismic isolation system, in an earthquake, is recognized as producing substantially smaller accelerations and deformations compared with a building that use other systems. This type of system is therefore expected to better protect the building's nonstructural components, equipment, and other contents that are essential for the activities conducted in the building. Unlike many available studies on building responses, only a small number of studies on a buildings' nonstructural component responses are available, and no study has directly addressed building performance with regard to nonstructural component protection. This paper therefore measures the performance of various seismically isolated buildings. Specifically, the effects of important structural parameters, namely, isolation stiffness, isolation damping ratio, and number of stories on the response of base‐isolated structures are investigated parametrically. Ground motions with 2% exceedence in 50years Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) are used. Performance is compared with that of fixed‐base structures in order to present data that will be useful in justifying the more costly technology. The buildings are 3, 9, and 20 stories, represented by MDOF shear‐beam models. As examples of displacement‐sensitive and acceleration‐sensitive components, partition walls and ceilings are considered, respectively. The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center performance‐based earthquake engineering methodology is adopted to evaluate the failure return periods of the examples based on their available fragility curves. In addition, the curves are varied hypothetically to understand the sensitivity of the return period to the curve features. Then, the median and dispersion of fragility curves required to satisfy the components' desired failure return period are obtained. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Median floor acceleration spectra of linear structures with uncertain properties

Response parameters used to estimate nonstructural damage differ depending on whether deformation‐sensitive or acceleration‐sensitive components are considered. In the latter case, seismic demand is usually represented through floor spectra, that is response spectra in terms of pseudo‐acceleration, which are calculated at the floor levels of the structure where the nonstructural components are attached to. Objective of this paper is to present a new spectrum‐to‐spectrum method for calculating floor acceleration spectra, which is able to explicitly account for epistemic uncertainties in the modal properties of the supporting structure. By using this method, effects on the spectra of possible variations from nominal values of the periods of vibration of the structure can be estimated. The method derives from the extension of closed‐form equations recently proposed by the authors to predict uniform hazard floor acceleration spectra. These equations are built to rigorously account for the input ground motion uncertainty, that is the record‐to‐record variability of the nonstructural response. In order to evaluate the proposed method, comparisons with exact spectra obtained from a standard probabilistic seismic demand analysis, as well as spectra calculated using the Eurocode 8 equation, are finally shown. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

考虑结构地震反应特性的非结构构件动力加载制度

我国在非结构构件抗震性能方面的实验研究尚处于起步阶段。首先介绍了美国纽约州立大学布法罗分校非结构构件模拟器的加载制度（UB-NCS加载制度）。在此基础上,为了考虑结构特性对非结构构件地震反应特性的影响,建议以结构在大量地震动作用下的非线性时程反应为依据,确定楼面峰值加速度和最大层间位移沿结构高度方向的分布函数。将其用于UB-NCS加载制度,可得到针对某一具体结构中位于某一楼层的非结构构件的位移时程加载曲线。该方法在对非结构构件进行检测加载时,能够考虑其所在结构的非线性地震反应特性,可用于研究不同的结构体系或地震损伤控制技术在减轻非结构震害方面的效果。     

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.     

Incremental dynamic analysis and FEMA P695 seismic performance evaluation of a cold-formed steel–framed building with gravity framing and architectural sheathing

The objective of this paper is to present incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) and seismic performance evaluation results for a two-story cold-formed steel (CFS)–framed building. The archetype building was designed to current U.S. standards and then subjected to full-scale shake table tests under the U.S. National Science Foundation Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) program. Test results showed that the building's stiffness and capacity were considerably higher than expected and the building suffered only nonstructural damage even at excitations in excess of Maximum Considered Earthquake levels for a high seismic zone. For the archetype building, three-dimensional finite element models at different modeling fidelity levels were created using OpenSees. The models are subjected to IDA using the far-field ground motion records prescribed in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) P695. Seismic performance quantification following the FEMA P695 procedure shows that if the modeling fidelity only follows the state-of-the-practice, ie, only includes shear walls, unsafe collapse margin ratios are predicted. State-of-the-art models that account for participation from CFS gravity walls and architectural sheathing have overall performance that are consistent with testing, and IDA results indicate acceptable collapse margin ratios, predicated primarily on large system overstrength. Neglecting the lateral force resistance of the gravity system and nonstructural components, as done in current design, renders a safe design in the studied archetype, but largely divorced from actual system behavior. The modeling protocols established here provide a means to analyze a future suite of CFS-framed archetype buildings for developing further insight on the seismic response modification coefficients for CFS-framed buildings.     

Effect of irregular structural configuration on floor acceleration demand in hill‐side buildings

A suite of reinforced‐concrete frame buildings located on hill sides, with 2 different structural configurations, viz step‐back and split‐foundation, are analyzed to study their floor response. Both step‐back and split‐foundation structural configurations lead to torsional effects in the direction across the slope due to the presence of shorter columns on the uphill side. Peak floor acceleration and floor response spectra are obtained at each storey's center of rigidity and at both its stiff and flexible edges. As reported in previous studies as well, it is observed that the floor response spectra are better correlated with the ground response spectrum. Therefore, the floor spectral amplification functions are obtained as the ratio of spectral ordinates at different floor levels to the one at the ground level. Peaks are observed in the spectral amplification functions corresponding to the first 2 modes in the upper portion of the hill‐side buildings, whereas a single peak corresponding to a specific kth mode of vibration is observed on the floors below the uppermost foundation level. Based on the numerical study for the step‐back and split‐foundation hill‐side buildings, simple floor spectral amplification functions are proposed and validated. The proposed spectral amplification functions take into account both the buildings' plan and elevation irregularities and can be used for seismic design of acceleration‐sensitive nonstructural components, given that the supporting structure's dynamic characteristics, torsional rotation, ground‐motion response spectrum, and location of the nonstructural components within the supporting structure are known, because current code models are actually not applicable to hill‐side buildings.     

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.