The EC8 response spectrum

Methods of analysis

How is seismic loading applied to a structure?

Depending on the structural characteristics of the building one of

the following two types of linear-elastic analysis may be used

• the “lateral force method of analysis” for buildings meeting

several conditions specified in EC8

• the “modal response spectrum analysis", which is applicable to

all types of buildings

The reference for the determination of the seismic action for both
methods of analysis is the EC8 design response spectrum

Similar approaches are adopted by almost all modern seismic codes

 Acceleration Response Spectra

Acc (m/sec²)
a3 a4
a5
a2
3) Create Response Spectra
a1 using the maximum value of a6
PGA Sdof response at each T
period T (sec)

a6
2)Measure Sdof response a4
at each period T
a2 a5
a1
All Sdof
a3
5% damping

T=0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
soil
.. PGA
More flexible structures
(larger period T)
ug
1)Earthquake input motion
Acceleration Response Spectra from several Earthquakes

El Centro

Mexico

Friuli
Derivation of a seismic code (e.g. EC8) response spectrum

Each earthquake has its own response spectrum

The basic questions arising regarding the introduction of response

spectra in seismic codes are:

• Can we design structures using the response spectrum of a

single earthquake? How sure are we that this earthquake will
struck our structures?

• Can we design structures using the response spectra of several

earthquakes? How many? Which ones?

• Can we design structures using the response spectra of all the

earthquakes that could probably struck them?
Derivation of a seismic code (e.g. EC8) response spectrum

Seismic codes propose design response spectra that can be used

for the design of structures.

These spectra take into account several parameters such as:

• The seismological and geological conditions of each region

(types of faults, size of faults expected magnitudes etc.)

• The soil conditions in the area of interest

The response spectra provided by seismic codes are derived using

statistical elaboration of the spectra of earthquakes that could
possibly struck the area of interest (mean value + standard
deviation)
Derivation of a seismic code (e.g. EC8) response spectrum

1.80

1.60

1.40
cceleration (g)

1.20
Αcceleration

1.00

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

Period (sec)
The Greek Code (EAK2000) Response Spectrum
The French Code (Règles PS92) Response Spectrum
 The EC8 response spectrum

Shape of the elastic EC8 response spectrum

 The EC8 response spectrum

• The horizontal seismic action is described by two orthogonal components

considered as independent and represented by the same response spectrum.
• For the three components of the seismic action, one or more alternative
shapes of response spectra may be adopted, depending on the seismic sources
and the earthquake magnitudes generated from them.
• The selection of the shape of the elastic response spectrum to be used in a
Country or part thereof may be found in its National Annex.
• In selecting the appropriate shape of the spectrum, consideration should be
given to the magnitude of earthquakes that contribute most to the seismic
hazard defined for the purpose of probabilistic hazard assessment, rather than
on conservative upper limits (e.g. Maximum Credible Earthquake) defined for
that purpose.
• When the earthquakes affecting a site are generated by widely differing
sources, the possibility of using more than one shape of spectra should be
contemplated to adequately represent the design seismic action. In such
circumstances, different values of ag will normally be required for each type of
spectrum and earthquake.
 The EC8 response spectrum
For the horizontal components of the seismic action the design spectrum,
Sd(T), is defined by the following expressions

where:
Sd(T) design spectrum
T vibration period of a linear
SDOF system
ag design ground acceleration on
type A ground (ag = γI.agR)
TB,TC limits of the constant spectral
acceleration branch
TD value defining the beginning
of the constant displacement
response range of the spectrum
S soil factor
q behaviour factor
η damping correction factor with
reference value η = 1 for 5%
viscous damping
β lower bound factor for the
In these expressions η=1 horizontal design spectrum.
(5% damping) and is omitted Recommended value: β=0,2
 The EC8 response spectrum

Definition of ag ag= γΙ·agR

• For the purpose of EC8, national territories are subdivided by National

Authorities into seismic zones, depending on the local hazard. By definition,
the hazard within each zone is assumed to be constant.
• For most of the applications of EC8, the hazard is described in terms of a
single parameter, i.e. the value of the reference peak ground acceleration on
type A ground, agR.
• The reference peak ground acceleration on type A ground, agR, for use in a
Country or parts thereof, may be derived from zonation maps found in its
National Annex
• The reference peak ground acceleration, chosen by the National Authorities
for each seismic zone, corresponds to the reference return period TNCR of the
seismic action for the no-collapse requirement (or equivalently the reference
probability of exceedance in 50 years
• In cases of low seismicity, reduced or simplified seismic design procedures
for certain types or categories of structures may be used.
• In cases of very low seismicity, the provisions of EN 1998 need not be
observed.
Seismic hazard zones in Greece

Zone
 The EC8 response spectrum

Buildings are classified in 4 importance classes, depending on the consequences

of collapse for human life, on their importance for public safety and civil
protection in the immediate post-earthquake period, and on the social and
economic consequences of collapse. The importance classes are characterized
by different importance factors γI.

Importance
classes for
buildings

• The value of γI for importance class III is by definition equal to 1,0.

• The values to be ascribed to γI for use in a Country may be found in its
National Annex. The recommended values of γI for importance classes I, II and
IV are equal to 1,4, 1,2 and 0,8, respectively.
 The EC8 response spectrum

Type 1 Type 2

Ms ≥ 5.5 Ms < 5.5

Recommended elastic response spectrum

for ground types A to E (5% damping)
 The EC8 response spectrum

• If deep geology is not accounted for, the recommended choice is

the use of two types of spectra: Type 1 and Type 2.

• If the earthquakes that contribute most to the seismic hazard

defined for the site for the purpose of probabilistic hazard
assessment has a surface-wave magnitude, Ms, not greater than
5,5, it is recommended that the Type 2 spectrum is adopted.

• For the five ground types A, B, C, D and E the recommended

values of the parameters S, TB, TC and TD are given in EC8.

• Different spectra may be defined in the National Annex, if deep

geology is accounted for.
 The EC8 response spectrum

Values of the parameters describing the recommended

elastic response spectrum

Type 1

Type 2
 The EC8 response spectrum
2
 T 
SD (T) = Se (T) ⋅  
 2π 
Se(T) is the elastic acceleration
response spectrum (q=1)

Additional control periods for

Type 1 displacement spectrum

EC8 elastic displacement response spectrum

 The EC8 response spectrum

Definition of ground types

For sites with ground conditions

matching the two special ground
types S1 and S2, special studies
for the definition of the seismic
action are required. For these
types, and particularly for S2,
the possibility of soil failure
under the seismic action shall be
considered.
 The EC8 response spectrum

The behaviour factor q

• The capacity of structural systems to resist seismic actions in the non-

linear range generally permits their design for forces smaller than those
corresponding to a linear elastic response.

• To avoid explicit inelastic structural analysis in design, the capacity of

the structure to dissipate energy, through mainly ductile behaviour of its
elements and/or other mechanisms, is taken into account by performing
an elastic analysis based on a response spectrum reduced with respect
to the elastic one, henceforth called ''design spectrum''. This reduction
is accomplished by introducing the behaviour factor q.

• The value of the behaviour factor q may be different in different

horizontal directions of the structure, although the ductility classification
must be the same in all directions.
 The EC8 response spectrum
The behaviour factor q
F

F1
Elastic behaviour

Inelastic behaviour

F1/q

d1/q d1 d
• The structure can develop a displacement equal to d1 following the inelastic
behaviour pattern that implicates linear and non-linear response
• Instead of conducting an inelastic analysis, EC8 permits to perform an elastic
analysis with limited force F1/q. Because of the structural capability to behave
inelastically we know that the structure will be able to resist more than F1/q,
approaching an actual displacement value of d1.
 The EC8 response spectrum
Behaviour factors q for reinforced concrete buildings

• The behaviour factor q is introduced in order to account for energy

dissipation capacity and shall be derived for each design direction as follows:
q = qokw ≥ 1,5
where:
qo basic value of the behaviour factor, dependent on the type of the
structural system and on regularity in elevation
kw factor reflecting the prevailing failure mode in structural systems
with walls
• For buildings regular in elevation the basic values qo for the various
structural types are given in the following table.
• For buildings which are not regular in elevation, the value of q0 should be
reduced by 20%
 The EC8 response spectrum
Behaviour factors q for reinforced concrete buildings

When the multiplier αu/α1 is not evaluated through calculations, for buildings
which are regular in plan the following approximate values of αu/α1 may be
used:

a) Frames or frame-equivalent dual systems:

– One-storey buildings: αu/α1=1,1
– Multistorey, one-bay frames: αu/α1=1,2
– Multistorey, multi-bay frames or frame-equivalent dual structures:
αu/α1=1,3

b) Wall or wall-equivalent dual systems:

– Wall systems with only two uncoupled walls per horizontal direction:
αu/α1=1,0
– Other uncoupled wall systems: αu/α1=1,1
– Wall-equivalent dual, or coupled wall systems: αu/α1=1,2.
 The EC8 response spectrum
Behaviour factors q for reinforced concrete buildings

• The factor kw reflecting the prevailing failure mode in structural systems

with walls shall be taken as follows:

1,00, for frame and frame equivalent dual systems

kw=
(1+α0)/3≤1, but not less than 0,5,
for wall, wall equivalent and core systems

where α0 is the prevailing aspect ratio of the walls of the structural system

• If the aspect ratios hwi/lWi of all walls i of a structural system do not

significantly differ, the prevailing aspect ratio α0 may be determined as follows:

α0 =Σhwi /Σlwi
where:
hwi height of wall i;
lwi length of the section of wall i.
 The EC8 response spectrum
Behaviour factors q for steel buildings

Reference values of behaviour factors for steel systems regular in elevation

• If the building is non-regular in elevation the values of q listed in the above table
should be reduced by 20%
• Values of au/a1 are given in several figures of EC8 according to the structural
system
 The EC8 response spectrum
Behaviour factors q for timber buildings

If the building is non-regular in elevation the q-values listed in the table

should be reduced by 20% (but need not be taken less than q = 1,5).
 The EC8 response spectrum
Behaviour factors q for masonry buildings

• The values ascribed to q for use in a Country (within the ranges of the
above table) may be found in its National Annex. The recommended values
of q are underlined in the above Table.

• For buildings constructed with masonry systems which provide an

enhanced ductility of the structure, different values of the behaviour factor q
may be used, as derived from the results of specified ductility tests. The
values ascribed to q for use in a Country for such buildings, depending on
the results of the tests, may be found in its National Annex.
 The EC8 response spectrum

The vertical component response spectrum

• For the vertical component of the seismic action the design spectrum is
given by the same expressions with the design ground acceleration in the
vertical direction, avg replacing ag S taken equal to 1,0.

• For the vertical component of the seismic action a behaviour factor q

equal to 1,5 should normally be adopted for all materials and structural
systems.

Recommended values of parameters describing

the vertical elastic response spectrum