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CE 31C STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

SEISMIC LOADS

The Earthquake Cause-to-Effect Chain

In accordance with tectonic plate theory, the earth’s crust is divided into a number of
plates. These plates, which are composed of rock, are interlocked at their surface thereby
forming fault lines. However, each plate is moving relative to the other so that over time,
the interlocked plates develop strain and therefore potential energy is stored in the plates
at the fault. When this strain reaches a limit, the plates slip and release the energy. This
is the primary cause of an earthquake.

This release of energy generates two types of waves: body waves (P and S), which radiate
from the sources of the slip, and surface waves (L and R), which are restricted to the
surface (Fig 1 items 1 to 3). The P wave propagates in the same direction as its motion
and travels at about 5.6 km/s and is the first wave to arrive at a location. The S wave
propagates at right angles to its motion and travels at about 3.2 km/s. S waves inflict
more damage to a building since they transmit more energy. Surface waves travel more
slowly than body waves, and R waves generally travel slower that L waves. All the
waves are refracted and reflected at discontinuities, and reflected at the surface, so that at
any point a complex combination of waveforms arrives over a period greater than that
taken for the original disturbance.

The magnitude of an earthquake is an expression of the amount of energy released at the

source of the earthquake (called the hypocentre or focus) and is usually expressed using a
logarithmic scale (e.g. Richter scale). The intensity of an earthquake is a measure of the
actual ground shaking at a particular point on the surface of the ground. A qualitative
measure of the intensity is the MM scale which ranges from I to XII and is a subjective
assessment based on observation of the effects of the earthquake (e.g. an earthquake is of
MM intensity V if it is felt outdoors; sleepers are awakened; doors swing, etc). A
common quantitative measure of earthquake intensity is the ground acceleration. This is
recorded on an accelerometer for the duration of the earthquake (Fig 1).

The ground shaking is a dynamic phenomenon in that it induces inertia forces on a

building (Fig 1 item 4). The inertia forces are in a feedback relationship with the
building. This is because the magnitude of the inertia forces depends on the deformation
of the building, which in turn depends on the magnitude of the inertia forces.
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a (ms-2) Typical accelerogram

4. Inertia
t (dynamic) forces on
each floor

3. L and R surface waves

Soil

Rock

2. P and S waves propagated in

rock and soil. 1. Fault slip

Fig. 1. The Cause-to-Effect chain of

earthquake forces on buildings.
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SEISMIC BASE SHEAR CALCULATION

UBC-94:-

V = ZICW/Rw

Z (Zone):-

Determined from a seismic zone map.

Zone 1 = 0.075 (7.5%g)

Zone 2A= 0.15
Zone 2B = 0.2
Zone 3 = 0.3
Zone 4 = 0.4

I (Importance):-

Used to increase the margin of safety for “essential” and hazardous facilities.

I = 1 (default)
I = 1.25

C (Site Coefficient):-

Modifies the Z factor to produce a maximum response acceleration, CZ.

C = 1.25S/T2/3

Where,

T = fundamental period of the building in seconds,

= Cthn3/4 h in ft,

Ct = 0.035 for steel moment frames

= 0.03 for reinforced-concrete moment frames and eccentric braced frames
= 0.02 for all other buildings

S (Site Coefficient):

Caters for the effect of the soil conditions based on a qualitative assessment. Must be
established from properly substantiated geotechnical data. In locations where the soil
properties are not known in sufficient detail to determine the soil profile type, S shall be
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taken as 1.5 unless the Building Official determines that a deep soft clay layer may be
present in which case the value must be taken as 2.0.

S = 1.0 for a soil profile with either (a) a rock-like material characterised by a shear-wave
velocity greater than 2500 ft/s or by other suitable means of classification, or (b) stiff or
dense soil condition where the soil depth is less than 200ft.

S = 1.2 for a soil profile with dense or stiff soil conditions, where the soil depth exceeds
200 ft.

S = 1.5 for a soil profile 40ft or more in depth and containing more than 200ft of soft to
medium stiff clay but not more than 40ft of soft clay.

S = 2.0 for a soil profile of more than 40ft depth of soft clay.

Rw (Structural System Ductility Coefficient):-

A measure of the ductility of the structural system based primarily on the performance of
similar systems in past earthquakes. Rw is determined by referring to a table of values for
various types of structural systems.

W (Dead Load):-

Total dead load plus, for storage and warehouse occupancies, 25% of the floor live load.

Vertical Distribution of the Base Shear, V:-

V is distributed vertically as a load at each floor, Fx, and a load at the top floor, Ft.

Ft = 0.07TV if T > 0.7 sec

= 0.0 if T < 0.7 sec

Fx = (V – Ft) wxhx/(Σ wi hi)

wi is the weight at the particular level and hi is the height of a particular level above the
base shear.

Story Shear, Vx:-

The story shear at level x, Vx, is the sum of all the lateral at and above that level.

Vx = Ft + Σ Fi
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EXAMPLE CALCULATION OF EARTHQUAKE LOADS

FOR A 9-STOREY RC BUILDING
(WITH TORSION NEGLECTED)

Determine the UBC-94 design seismic forces for a 9 storey special ductile moment-
resisting reinforced concrete building located in Port-of-Spain. No geotechnical
engineering report is available. The storey heights are all 3.96m; the plan area is 30.48m
by 51.83m. The total dead load on each level is 5 kN/m2. Neglect torsional effects.

Base shear:-

V = ZICW/RW

Z = 0.3 I = 1.0 S = 1.5 RW = 12

T = 0.03hn3/4 = 0.03 x (9x3.96x3.28)3/4 = 1.07 seconds

C = 1.25S/T2/3 = 1.25 (1.5)/1.072/3 = 1.79 < 2.75 :OK

C/RW = 1.79/12 = 0.149 > 0.075 :OK

W = 5 x 9 x 30.48 x 51.83 = 71,090 kN

V = 0.3 x 1 x 1.79 x 71090/12 = 3181 kN

Vertical Distribution:-

T > 0.7 sec

Ft = 0.07TV = 0.07 x 1.07 x 3181 = 238 kN

V - Ft = 3181 - 238 = 2943 kN

Fx = Storey Force at level x = Applied Inertia Force at x = (V - Ft) wx hx/∑1n wi hi

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F9 + Ft = 2943(7899)(35.64)/1407601.8 + 238 = 826.6 kN

F8 = 2943(7899)(35.64-3.96)/1407601.8 = 523.2 kN

Vx = Storey Shear:

Vx = Ft + ∑1n FI

V9 = 826.6 kN

V8 = 826.6 + 523.2 = 1349.8 kN

Level h(x) w(x) w(x)h(x) F(i)+ F(t) V(x)

m kN kNm kN kN
9 35.64 7899 281520.36 826.6 826.6
8 31.68 7899 250240.32 523.2 1349.8
7 27.72 7899 218960.28 457.8 1807.6
6 23.76 7899 187680.24 392.4 2200
5 19.8 7899 156400.2 327 2527
4 15.84 7899 125120.16 261.6 2788.6
3 11.88 7899 93840.12 196.2 2984.8
2 7.92 7899 62560.08 130.8 3115.6
1 3.96 7899 31280.04 65.4 3181
Sum 71091 1407601.8 3181