Computer Modeling of

Structure to Earthquake Load

By
John Li (johnli@src-asia.com)
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How Do Earthquake Affect Buildings

z Earthquake
z Seismic waves
z Site/soil effects
z Soil-structure
interaction
z Structural
response

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Ground Motion Parameters

For engineering purposes, three

characteristics of earthquake motion are of
primary significance:
z Amplitude
z Frequency content

z Duration of the motion

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Newton Equation of Motion

F (t ) = Ma
F (t ) = [K ]{x}+ [C ]{x&}+ [M ]{&x&}
Building codes provide guidelines for:
z F(t)
z Computation method to solve equation

z Solution interpretation and design

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Earthquake Analysis Procedure

z Modal/Ritz Vectors Analysis

z Equivalent Lateral Load
z Static Pushover
z Response Spectrum
z Linear Time History
z Nonlinear Time History

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Energy Conservation

Work Kinetic Strain Damped

= + +
Done Energy Energy Energy
Mechanical Kinetic Strain
= +
Energy Energy Energy

z Energy is the fundamental in dynamic analysis.

z For earthquake resistant design, try to
minimize the mechanical energy.
z Use to evaluate the accuracy of the solution.

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P-Delta Parameters

z Non-iterative –
Based on Mass
z Iterative – Based
on Load
Combination

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Modal Vs Ritz Vectors

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Equivalent Lateral Force Method
Wi H i
Fi = n
Fek (1 − δ n )
∑W H
j =1
j j

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Response Spectrum Analysis

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Time History Record
24538-S2486-94020.06 SANTA MONICA - CITY HALL GROUNDS AT 90 DEG
3000 POINTS OF ACCEL DATA EQUALLY SPACED AT .020 SEC. (UNITS: CM/SEC/SEC)
2.321 1.647 .854 -.188 -1.492 -.155 1.559 1.468
1.468 .234 -1.725 -.507 .331 .014 1.031 1.911
1.272 -1.191 -.432 .994 1.705 1.341 -1.266 -1.638
-.495 3.286 4.705 -.057 -2.141 .031 2.391 3.937
3.209 -1.892 -4.787 -.361 4.965 2.778 -.768 -1.933
-3.859 -1.514 .460 -.759 -3.399 -1.470 5.361 .499
-3.190 -2.014 -6.361 -.327 5.597 -.284 -6.629 -1.982
3.192 -3.786 -5.605 -3.604 -3.588 1.536 1.673 .285
-2.091 -4.786 .461 1.878 6.096 6.154 -.362 -.090
8.028 15.086 9.537 2.588 -3.574 -1.133 2.995 -5.163
-12.471 -9.782 -4.950 -5.719 -9.039 -8.594 -7.362 -5.799
.590 6.948 5.881 1.054 5.206 7.877 .808 -8.184
-11.273 -6.557 -4.386 -5.915 -8.621 -6.395 4.616 11.018
7.740 4.030 7.361 13.319 14.179 13.029 12.126 7.768
1.784 -4.704 -10.645 -15.894 -16.559 -9.928 -4.541 3.332
10.073 5.642 1.994 5.629 6.987 3.263 -6.605 -14.153
-9.129 .915 .638 -7.667 -9.769 -11.986 -8.324 -4.435
-7.603 -8.013 -5.754 3.932 17.271 17.645 5.381 2.855
5.636 6.088 3.796 2.630 6.783 8.365 5.489 2.831

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Time History Function

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Time History Analysis

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Time History Trace

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Time History Video

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Nonlinear Time History Analysis
Full nonlinear behavior may be considered in a time-
history analysis using direct integration. P-delta effects,
large-displacements, and material nonlinearity are
available. Arbitrary loading may be applied. Applications
include seismic loading, dynamic pushover, and
instability analysis. Most commonly used implicit
integration schemes are available, as well as high-speed
explicit integration for wave propagation, blast, and
collapse problems. Nonlinear direct-integration time-
history analysis cases can be chained together with other
nonlinear time-history or static cases (including staged
construction), to address a wide range of applications.

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Nonlinear NLLink Element

z Linear
z Damper
z Gap
z Hook
z Plasitc1
z Isolator1
z Isolator2

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Nonlinear Time History

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Energy Plots

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Pushover Curve

z M3 Major Moment
z P Axial
z PMM Axial & Bi-Axial Moments
z S Shear

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Pushover Hinge Types

z M3 Major Moment
z P Axial
z PMM Axial & Bi-Axial Moments
z S Shear

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Pushover Analysis Case

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Hinge Formation

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Pushover Curve

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The Reality!!
Dynamic Testing and Modelling of Existing Buildings in Hong Kong by Dr
Ray Su, Prof Adrian Chandler, Prof Peter Lee, Dr Alex To & Mr J H Li.

Vibration Period (second)

Vibration Bare Modifications Test
Mode Frame Result
1 2 3
TTT Building
Y Trans 1.622 1.287 0.727 0.661 0.578
BSB Building
Y Trans 1.588 1.302 1.401 1.148 0.860
TRB Building
Torsion 2.835 2.336 2.123 1.789 1.540

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Power Spectral Density Analysis
Power-spectral-density analysis is available to determine
the probabilistic response of a structure due to cyclic
(harmonic, sinusoidal) loading over a range of
frequencies. This is useful for fatigue studies, random
response due to earthquakes, and other applications.
Multiple loads may be applied at different phase angles,
and may be correlated or uncorrelated. The structure
may be damped or undamped. Frequency-dependent
stiffness and damping (complex impedance) properties
may be included for modeling foundations and far-field
effects, including radiation damping. Power-spectral-
density curves may be plotted for any response quantity,
and the integrated expected value is automatically
computed.

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