Module 3

CE 407 Earthquake Engineering

Module 3 Lesson 2: Minimum Design Lateral Load on Building and

Non-Building Structure and P Delta Effects

The design lateral force shall first be computed for the building as a whole. This design lateral force shall
then be distributed to the various floor levels. In the National Structural Code of the Philippines, there are
three common used procedures for seismic design lateral forces: Simplified Static Force Procedure; Static
Force Procedure; and Dynamic Analysis Procedures. In this lesson, Simplified Static Force Procedure will
be discussed.
P delta effect is the secondary effect on shears and moments of structural members due to the action of the
vertical loads induced by horizontal displacement of the structure resulting from various loading conditions.

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the session the students should be able to:
1. Understand and apply the design lateral loads and P delta effects to building and non-building
structures.

Discussions

208.5 Minimum Design Lateral Forces and Related Effects

In NSCP 2015, there are three procedures for seismic design lateral load:

a) 208.5.1 Simplified Static Force Procedure

b) 208.5.2 Static Force Procedure (Module 2)
c) 208.5.3 Dynamic Analysis Procedures (Module 5)

We will discuss the Simplified Static Force Procedure for this module.

208.5.1 Simplified Static Force Procedure

Structures conforming to the requirements of Section 208.4.1. may be designed using this procedure.

Section 208.4.1:

The minimum design strength shall be based on the Design Seismic Forces determined in
accordance with the static lateral force procedure Section 208.5, except as modified by Section
208.5.3.5.4.

Where strength design is used, the load combinations of Section 203.3 shall apply. Where Allowable
Stress Design is used, the load combinations of Section 203.4 shall apply.

Page | 1
 Module 3
CE 407 Earthquake Engineering

There are six factors that we’re considering in this procedure:

1) 208.5.1.1 Simplified Design Base Shear

2) 208.5.1.2 Vertical Distribution
3) 208.5.1.3 Horizontal Distribution of Shear
4) 208.5.1.4 Horizontal Torsional Moments
5) 208.5.1.5 Overturning
6) 208.5.1.6 Applicability

1) 208.5.1.1 Simplified Design Base Shear

The total design base shear in a given direction shall be determined from the following equation:

𝟑𝑪𝒂
𝑽= 𝑾 (208-5)
𝑹

where the value of Ca shall be based on Table 208-7 for the soil profile type. When the soil properties
are not known in sufficient detail to determine the soil profile type, Type SD shall be used in Seismic
Zone 4, and the Type SE shall be used in Seismic Zone 2. In Seismic Zone 4, the Near-Source Factor,
Na, need not be greater than 1.2 if none of the following structural irregularities are present:
1. Type 1, 4 or 5 of Table 208-9, or
2. Type 1 or 4 of Table 208-10.

2) 208.5.1.2 Vertical Distribution

The forces at each level shall be calculated using the following equation:

𝟑𝑪𝒂
𝑭𝑿 = 𝑾𝒊 (208-6)
𝑹

where the value of Ca shall be determined as in Section 208.5.1.1.

3) 208.5.1.3 Horizontal Distribution of Shear

The design storey shear, VX, in any storey is the sum of the forces Ft and FX above that storey. VX
shall be distributed to the various elements of the vertical lateral force-resisting system in proportion
of their rigidities, considering the rigidity if the diaphragm. See Section 208.7.2.3 for rigid elements
that are not intended to be part of the lateral force-resisting systems.

Where diaphragms are not flexible, the mass at each level shall be assumed to be displaced from the
calculated center of mass in each direction a distance equal to 5 percent of the building dimension
at that level perpendicular to the direction of the force under consideration. The effect of this
displacement on the storey shear distribution shall be considered.

Diaphragms shall be considered flexible for the purposes of distribution of storey shear and
torsional moment when the maximum lateral deformation of the diaphragm is more than two times
the average storey drift of the associated storey. This may be determined by comparing the computed
midpoint in-plane deflection of the diaphragm itself under lateral load with the storey drift of
adjoining vertical-resisting elements under equivalent tributary lateral load.

4) 208.5.1.4 Horizontal Torsional Moments

Provisions shall be made for the increased shears resulting from horizontal torsion where
diaphragms are not flexible. The most severe load combination for each element shall be considered
for design.
Page | 2
Module 3
CE 407 Earthquake Engineering

The torsional design moment at a given storey shall be the moment resulting from eccentricities
between applied design lateral forces at levels above that storey and the vertical-resisting elements
in that storey plus an accidental torsion.

The accidental torsional moment shall be determined by assuming the mass is displaced as
required in Section 208.5.1.3.

Where torsional irregularities exist, as defined in Table 208-10, the effects shall be accounted for
by increasing the accidental torsion at each level by an amplification factor, A x, determined from
the following equation:

𝜹𝒎𝒂𝒙
𝑨𝑿 = [ ] (208-7)
𝟏.𝟐𝜹𝒂𝒗𝒈

where:
𝜹𝒂𝒗𝒈 = the average of the displacements at the extreme points of the structure
at Level x, mm

𝜹𝒎𝒂𝒙 = the maximum of the displacements at Level x, mm

The value of Ax need not exceed 3.0

5) 208.5.1.5 Overturning
Every structure shall be designed to resist the overturning effects caused by the earthquake forces
specified in Section 208.5.2.3. At any level, the overturning moments to be resisted shall be
determined using those seismic forces (Ft and Fx) that act on levels above the level under
consideration. At any level, the incremental changes of the design overturning moment shall be
distributed to the various resisting elements in the manner prescribed in Section 208.5.1.3.
Overturning effects on every element shall be carried down to the foundation. See Sections
207.1 and 208.7 for combining gravity and seismic forces.

6) 208.5.1.6 Applicability

Section 208.6.2, 208.6.3, 208.5.2.1, 208.5.2.2, 208.5.2.3, 208.6.4, 208.6.5 and 208.5.3 shall not
apply when using the simplified procedure.

Exception:

For buildings with relatively flexible structural systems, the building official may require
consideration of P∆ effects and drift in accordance with Sections 208.6.3, 208.6.4 and 208.6.5. ∆s
shall be determined using design seismic forces from Section 208.5.1.1.

Where used, ∆M shall be taken equal to 0.01 times the storey height of all stories. In Section
𝟑𝑪𝒂
208.7.2.7, Equation 208-22 shall read 𝑭𝒑𝒙 = 𝑾𝒑𝒙 and need not exceed 𝑪𝒂 𝑾𝒑𝒙 , but shall not
𝑹
less than 0.5𝑪𝒂 𝑾𝒑𝒙 . R and 𝛀𝒐 shall be taken from Table 208-11.

Page | 3
 Module 3
CE 407 Earthquake Engineering

P delta Effects

The P-Delta effect is one of the primary parameters for which each structural designer would not want to ignore
accounting while performing the stability analysis and design of the slender member, tall structure or any structure
which, in addition to the lateral force, experiences significant gravity charges.

P-Delta effect typically involves large external forces upon relatively small displacements. If deformations become
sufficiently large as to break from linear compatibility relationships, then Large-Displacement and/or Large-
Deformation analyses may become necessary. The two sources of P-Delta effect are illustrated in Figure 1, and
described as follows:

1. P-δ Effect

P-δ Effect or P-"small-delta", is associated with local deformation relative to the element chord between
end nodes. Small P-delta effects can affect overall structural behavior by slightly reducing the buckling
load, and can change the moment within the member.
Page | 4
 Module 3
CE 407 Earthquake Engineering

Typically, P-δ only becomes significant at larger displacement values or in especially slender columns.
(Powell 2006). Small P-delta effect is important for local buckling and for design algorithms that expect
member buckling to be accounted for by analysis. This includes the AISC direct-analysis method.

Small P-delta is automatically included in frame elements to the extent that the deflected shape can be
well represented by a cubic curve. The frame small P-delta effect is very accurate for a single element
with effective-length factor of 2 (cantilever), and it is moderately accurate for an effective-length factor
of 1 (pinned or sway condition). When accurate small P-delta effects are important for analysis or design
of a member, it is generally recommended to auto-mesh frame objects into 2 or more elements, especially
for axial loads close to buckling. For most other purposes, small P-delta effects as they impact the overall
structure are adequately considered with a single frame object between connections.

2. P-Δ Effect

P-Δ Effect, or P-"big-delta", is associated with displacements of the member ends. Large P-delta effect
is important for overall structure behavior under significant axial load. As indicated intuitively by Figure
2, gravity loading will influence structural response under significant lateral displacement.

P-Δ may contribute to loss of lateral resistance, ratcheting of residual deformations, and dynamic
instability (Deierlein et al. 2010). As shown in Figure 3, effective lateral stiffness decreases, reducing
strength capacity in all phases of the force-deformation relationship (PEER/ATC 2010). To consider P-
Δ effect directly, gravity load should be present during nonlinear analysis. Application will cause
minimal increase to computational time and will remain accurate for drift levels up to 10% (Powell
2006).

Large P-delta is included in all elements – frame, shell, solid, link.

The Types of P-Delta analysis article further explains the difference between P-δ and P-Δ.

Note that P-delta effects increase lateral flexibility for members under compression, but they can also increase the
lateral stiffness for members under tension. In some systems the two effects can cancel out, at least for overall system
behavior. For example, lateral wind loading on a building already under gravity load may increase the compression
on one side of the structure and decrease it on the other side, perhaps even going into tension. Locally, the members
under greater compression are more likely to buckle than the members on the windward side, and small P-delta effects

Page | 5
 Module 3
CE 407 Earthquake Engineering

could be important. However, the lateral stiffness of the overall building is little changed by the presence of the wind
load as the increased flexibility of columns on one side is counteracted by the smaller effect (or even tension stiffening)
on the other side.

From NSCP 2015: 208.6.3 P delta Effects

The resulting member forces and moments and the storey drifts induced by P𝚫 effects shall be considered in the
evaluation of overall structural frame stability and shall be evaluated using the forces producing the displacements of
𝚫𝒔 . P𝚫 need not be considered when the ratio of secondary moment to primary moment does not exceed 0.10; the
ratio may be evaluated for any storey as the product of the total deal and floor live loads, as required in Section 203,
above the storey times the seismic drift in that storey divided by the product of the seismic shear in that storey times
the height of that storey. In Seismic Zone 4, P𝚫 need not be considered when the storey drift ratio does not exceed
0.02/R.

Reference
 National Structural Code of the Philippines. (2015).
 ASCE 7. Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures.
 Abell M. (2019). P-Delta Effect. wiki.csiamerica.com/display/kb/P-Delta+effect.
 Powell, G. H. (2010). Modeling for Structural Analysis: Behavior and Basics (1st ed.). Berkeley,
CA: Computers and Structures, Inc.
 Deierlein, G. G., Reinhorn, A. M., and Willford, M. R. (2010). Nonlinear Structural Analysis For
Seismic Design, NEHRP Seismic Design Technical Brief No. 4., NIST GCR 10-917-5.
Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology.
 PEER/ATC (2010). Modeling and acceptance criteria for seismic design and analysis of tall
buildings, PEER/ATC 72-1 Report. Redwood City, CA: Applied Technology Council.

END OF MODULE 3 LESSON 2

Proprietary Clause

Property of the Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.). No part of the materials made and uploaded in
this learning management system by T.I.P. may be copied, photographed, printed, reproduced, shared,
transmitted, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part,
without the prior consent of T.I.P.

Page | 6