EARTHQUAKE EFFECTS ON

STRUCTURES

Dr. G. P. Chandradhara
Professor of Civil Engineering
S. J. College of Engineering
Mysore- 570 006

E mail : chandu_gpc@yahoo.com
Mobile: 094482 46425
Vibration effects on Structures

Structures are subjected to Two types of Loads

 Static loads
 Dynamic Loads
Equation of Static Equilibrium
F = KY
F - External Force
K – Stiffness of Structure
Y – Resulting Displacement
The restoring Force ( KY) resists the applied force

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 Vibration effects on Structures
Equation of Dynamic Equilibrium

There are two additional Forces that resist applied force

Along with the restoring Force ( KY)
Ma – Inertia Force
Cv – Damping Force
These two force are resulting from the induced Acceleration and
Velocity in the Structure

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VIBRATION EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES

Under the action of dynamic loads the

structure vibrates, that is,

(a) the structure develops significant level

of inertia forces
(b) significant level of mechanical energy
is stored as kinetic energy

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Direction of Inertia Force

Building at Rest Ground Accelerates to Left

Ground Accelerates to Right Ground & Building at Rest

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Representation of Inertia Force

 F is known as an inertial force,

◦ created by building's tendency to remain at
rest, in its original position, although the
ground beneath it is moving
F

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What is Dynamic

Dynamic load is one whose magnitude or direction or

position varies with time.
Dynamic response of the structure are displacement,
velocity, acceleration, stresses etc are.

Dynamic response of the structure depends on –

(i) dynamic load
(ii) dynamic properties of the structure itself
(ex: natural period)

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 SEISMIC EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES

1. Inertia Forces
Ground acceleration at the base of structure
 Structural vibration due to inertia force
 Force generated at the floor mass level
 Need to be transferred to ground safely

•When the ground moves, the building is thrown

backwards, and the roof experiences a force, called
inertia force
•The walls or columns are flexible, the motion of the
roof is different from that of the ground (F=M x a)
•More mass means higher inertia force. Therefore,
lighter buildings sustain the earthquake shaking
better.

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SEISMIC EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES
2. Effect of Deformation in Structures

The inertia force experienced by the roof

is transferred to the ground via the
columns, causing forces in columns.
The columns undergo relative movement
(u) between their ends
 horizontal displacement u, larger is this
greater the internal force in columns.
Also, the stiffer the columns are, larger is
this force. these internal forces in the
columns are called stiffness forces.
the stiffness force in a column is the
column stiffness times the relative
displacement

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SEISMIC EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES
3. Horizontal and Vertical Shaking

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Earthquake Motions
◦ Three components
 Two Horizontal
 Longitudinal (X) & Transverse (Y)
 One Vertical (Z)
◦ Vertical component Y Z
X
 Add or subtract the gravity effect
 Nor critical to structures
◦ Horizontal components
 Inertia force & lateral displacement
 Critical for structures performance
 Need adequate load transfer path

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 Effects of Horizontal Shaking

U-D
EW
Direction of Movement of
building
forces on NS
Building

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SEISMIC EFFECTS ON STRUCTURES
4. Flow of Inertia Forces to Foundation

 The lateral inertia forces are

transferred by the floor slab to
the walls or columns, to the
foundations, and finally to the soil
system underneath.
 So, each of these structural
elements (floor slabs, walls,
columns, and foundations) and
the connections between them
must be designed to safely
transfer these inertia forces
through them

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House Elements Resist
Horizontal Forces

Roof Diaphragm

f1 Shear Wall

f2
f3
Foundation
Floor
Diaphragm

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 Earthquake effects on Buildings
(Analysis and Design)

Vertical Acceleration – Significant near epicenter

(Adds/Reduces to the gravity forces, Large balconies)
Horizontal Acceleration – produces sway
( Effect of Inertia , distribution of lateral forces)
Effect of Resonance - Excessive deflection
( Natural frequency coincides with Earthquake frequency

Ymax

weq/wnat
0 1 2
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Vertical Acceleration

Up/Down
Acceleration

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Large Span Cantilevers

Up/Down
Acceleration

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Effects of Earthquake
on Stress Distribution

Lateral Displacement
&
Overturning

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Effects of Earthquakes
on Stress distribution-

Change in Stress

Change in Moment

Change in Load

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 Bending Moment
Distribution in Portal Frame

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 RESONANCE
frequency content of the ground motion is close to building's
natural frequency
◦ tends to increase or amplify building response
◦ building suffers the greatest damage from ground motion at a frequency
close or equal to its own natural frequency
• Example: Mexico City earthquake of
September 19, 1985
– majority of buildings that collapsed were
around 20 stories tall
– natural period of around 2.0 seconds
– other buildings, of different heights and
different natural frequencies, were undamaged
even though located right next to damaged 20
story buildings

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