SEISMIC ACTION EFFECTS ACCORDING TO EC 8

CONSIDERATIONS FOR ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

A. GENERAL

1. Structural regularity
Tri-dimensional models and modal analysis shall be used for spacial structures. This
approach dismisses the classification of structures as regular or non-regular.

2. Importance classes and factors

Buildings are classified in four importance classes, according to the consequences to
human life, public safety and civil protection in the post earthquake period.

Importance Buildings Importance

class factor
Buildings of minor importance for public safety, e.g.
I 0.8
agricultural buildings, etc.
Ordinary buildings, not belonging in the other
II 1.0
categories.
Buildings whose seismic resistance is of importance in
III view of the consequences associated with a collapse, 1.2
e.g. schools, assembly halls, cultural institutions, etc.
Buildings whose integrity during earthquakes is of vital
IV importance for civil protection, e.g. hospitals, fire 1.40
stations, power plants, etc.

3. Structural modelling
The stiffness of the bearing elements should, in general, be evaluated taking into
account the effect of cracking. Such stiffness corresponds to the initiation of yielding of
the steel reinforcement.

The elastic flexural and shear stiffness properties of cracked concrete may be taken as
one half of those of uncracked concrete [refer 4.3.1 (7)].

4. Non structural elements

Masonry panels with a slenderness ratio (smaller of length or height to thickness)
greater than 15 shall be avoided.

B. CONCRETE BUILDINGS

1. Ductility class L (low)

Seismic design for low ductility class is recommended only for low seismicity cases and
shall follow EN 1992-1-1:2004 without any additional requirements other than:

i. In primary seismic elements, reinforcing steel of class B or C in EN1992-1-

1:2004, Table C.1 shall be used;
ii. A behaviour factor q of up to 1.50 may be used in deriving the seismic actions,
regardless of the structural system and the regularity in elevation.
2. Ductility class M (low)

I. Geometric constraints and materials

In critical regions of primary seismic elements, reinforcing steel of class B or C

in EN 1992-1-1:2004, Table C.1 shall be used.

To enable efficient transfer of cyclic moments between a beam and a column,

the distance between centroidal axes of the two members shall be limited to
less than bc/4, where bc is the cross-sectional dimension of the column
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

The thickness of the web of walls, bw0, in metres shall satisfy the following:

bw0 ≥ max{0.15; hs/20}

hs – clear storey height in metres

For primary seismic beam supporting columns discontinued below the beam,
the following rules shall apply:

i. There shall be no eccentricity of the column axis relative of that of the

beam;
ii. The beam shall be supported be at least two direct supports.

II. Design action effects

The design values of bending moments and axial forces shall take into account
second order effects. Redistribution of bending moments in accordance with
EN 1992-1-1:2004 is permitted.

In dual systems containing ductile slender walls (height to length ratio h w/lw
greater than 2.0), the design envelope of shear forces in accordance with
figure 5.4 (the design shear force at the top of the lower third of the wall is
taken constant throughout the remaining height of the wall) shall be used, to
account for uncertainties in higher mode effects.

III. ULS verification and detailing

Beams

The top reinforcement of the ends of primary seismic beams with a T or L

shaped section shall be placed mainly within the width of the web. Only part of
this reinforcement and under special circumstances, may be placed outside the
width of the web, but within the effective flange width b eff. Refer to 5.4.3.1.1(2)
for beff.

Regions of length lcr = hw (where hw denotes beam depth) at the ends of a

primary seismic beam, liable to yield during the seismic event, shall be
considered critical regions.

When a primary seismic beam supports a column, the critical regions shall be
taken as 2.hw on either side of the column.
 Refer to 5.4.3.1.2 (4) to (6) for local ductility criteria, concerning the
reinforcements in critical regions of primary seismic beams.

Columns

In primary seismic columns the value of the normalised axial force ν d shall not
exceed 0.65

Detailing for local ductility in columns shall refer to subclause 5.4.3.2.2

Beam – column joints

Horizontal confinement of joints of primary seismic beams with columns is

required and shall not be less than that required for critical regions of columns,
with the exception of the following case.

If beams frame into all four sides of the joint and their width is at least ¾ of the
face of the column, the spacing of the horizontal confinement in the joint may
be increased to twice of that required for critical regions of columns, but may
not exceed 150 mm.

Ductile walls

In primary seismic walls the value of the normalised axial force ν d should not
exceed 0.40

The height of the critical region hcr above the base of the wall (level of the
foundation or top of basement) may be estimated as:

i. hcr = max[lw; hw/6] but hcr ≤ [2.lw; hs] for n≤6 stories
ii. hcr = max[lw; hw/6] but hcr ≤ [2.lw; 2.hs] for n≥7 stories

lw – wall length
hw – wall total height
hs – clear story height
n – number of floors above base

For ductility purposes, confining reinforcement shall be placed within edge

regions of the cross section, termed boundary elements. Refer to 5.4.3.4.2 (4)
and (5) for the required area of reinforcement prescribed by EC8.

The confinement reinforcement shall extend vertically over the height h cr of the
critical region and horizontally along a length lc measured from the extreme
compression fibre of the wall to the point where unconfined concrete may spall
due to large compressive strains. Refer to 5.4.3.4.2 (6) for the length l c.

As a minimum, the length lc of the confined boundary element shall not be

taken as being smaller than 0.15lw or 1.5bw

The longitudinal reinforcement ratio in the boundary elements shall not be less
than 0.005

The thickness bw of the boundary elements shall not be less than 200 mm

3. Provisions for anchorages and splices

 For hoops used as transverse reinforcement in beams, columns or walls, closed
stirrups with 135º hooks and extensions of length 10d bw (diameter of hoop) shall be
used.

The spacing s of the transverse reinforcement in lap zones shall not exceed:

s = min {h/4; 100}, in mm and h is the minimum cross-sectional dimension

4. Concrete foundation elements

Stub columns between the top of a footing or pile cap and the soffit of tie-beams or
foundation slabs shall be avoided. The soffit of such elements shall be located below
the top of the foundations.

Tie beams and foundation beams shall have at least a cross-sectional width of 0.25m
and a cross sectional height of 0.50m.

Foundations slabs shall have a thickness of at least 0.2m and a reinforcement ratio
ρs,min of at least 0.2%.

Tie beams and foundation beams shall have along their full length a longitudinal
reinforcement ratio ρ0,min of at least 0.4% at both the top and bottom.

5. Provisions for concrete diaphragms

A solid reinforced concrete slab may be considered to serve as a diaphragm, if it has a

thickness of not less than 70 mm and is reinforced in both horizontal directions.