Earthquake loads on

buildings based on
EBCS provisions
Methods of analysis
As per EBCS 8, there are two methods of analysis

Static analysis (or Seismic coefficient method): This type of

analysis can be applied to buildings whose response is not
significantly affected by contributions from higher modes of
vibration. These requirements are deemed to be satisfied
by buildings which meet the criteria for regularity in plan
and/or elevation as given in EBCS 8, and have
fundamental period of vibration T1 in the two main
directions less than 2 sec.

Dynamic analysis (or Response spectrum method): This

method of analysis can be conducted for all types of
buildings.
(The static method is generally applicable to buildings up to
Classification of subsoil conditions (Page 8, Art. 1.3.2 – EBCS 8)
The influence of local ground conditions on the seismic action shall be
accounted for by considering the three subsoil classes.

Subsoil class A: Rock or other geological formation characterized by a

shear wave velocity vs of at least 800m/s, including at most 5 m of weaker
material at the surface.
Stiff deposits of sand, gravel or over consolidated clay, at least several
tens of meters thick, characterized by a gradual increase of the mechanical
properties with depth and by vs values of at least 400 m/s at a depth of
10m.

Subsoil class B: Deep deposits of medium dense sand, gravel or medium

stiff clays with thickness from several tens to many hundreds of meter,
characterized by vs values of at least 200 m/s at a depth of 10m; increasing
to at least 350 m/s at a depth of 50 m.

Subsoil class C: Loose cohesion less soil deposits with or without some
soft cohesive layers, characterized by vs values below 200 m/s in the upper
most 20 m.
Deposits with predominant soft-to-medium stiff cohesive soils,
characterized by vs values below 200 m/s in the upper most 20m.
 Seismic Action

The intensity of earthquake is usually

described in terms of the ground
acceleration as a fraction of the
acceleration due to gravity, i.e. 0.1g, 0.2g,
0.3g etc.
The static analysis procedure provides
for the calculation of the total lateral
force, defined as the design base shear
which is then distributed over height of
the building.
 Basic representation of seismic
action (Page 9, Art. 1.4.2 – EBCS 8)

The earthquake motion at a given

point of the surface is generally
represented by an elastic ground
acceleration spectrum, called
“elastic response spectrum”.
Normalized elastic response spectra
are shown in annex A – Figure A.1 of
EBCS 8.
 Design spectrum (Page 10,
Art.1.4.2.2 (4) to (7) – EBCS 8)

For linear analysis, the design

spectrum Sd(T), normalized by
the acceleration of gravity g, is
defined by,
Sd(T) = αβγ
Where α = the ratio of design
bedrock acceleration to the
acceleration of gravity g
and is given by α = α0I
Where α0 = the bedrock acceleration
ratio for the site and
depends on the seismic
zone.
I = Importance factor
Bedrock acceleration ratio α0

Zone 4 3 2 1
α0 0.10 0.07 0.05 0.03
 Importance categories and importance factors
for buildings (Table 2.4 Chapter 2 – EBCS 8)

Importanc Importanc
e Buildings e factor I
Category
I Buildings whose integrity during 1.4
earthquakes is of vital importance for civil
protection, e.g. hospitals, fire stations,
power plants etc.
II Buildings whose seismic resistance is of 1.2
importance in view of the consequences
associated with a collapse, e.g. schools,
assembly halls, cultural, institutions, etc.
III Ordinary buildings, not belonging to the 1.0
other categories

IV Buildings of minor importance for public 0.8

β = design response factor for the site
= 1.2 S/T2/3 ≤ 2.5

Where S is the site coefficient for soil

characteristics
Site coefficient S

Subsoil class A B C
S 1.0 1.2 1.5
T = Fundamental vibration period
γ = Behavior factor to account for energy
dissipation capacity
γ = γ0 kD kR kW ≤ 0.70
γ0 = Basic value of the behavior factor
= 0.2 for frame system and dual system
= 0.3 for core system
= 0.5 for inverted pendulum system
kD = Factor reflecting the ductility class
= 1.00 for DC “H”
= 1.50 for DC “M”
= 2.00 for DC “L”
kR = Factor reflecting the regularity in
elevation
= 1.00 for regular structures
= 1.25 for non-regular structures
kW = Factor reflecting the prevailing failure
mode in structural systems
= 1.00 for frame and frame equivalent dual
systems
= (2.5 – 0.5 α0) for wall and wall equivalent
systems ≥ 1 for core systems
Here, α0 = aspect ratio of the walls
= (Height of wall / Length of wall)
Base shear force (Page 21, Art.2.3.3.2.2 – EBCS 8)
Seismic base shear force Fb = Sd(T1)W
Where Sd(T1) = the design spectrum
T1 = Fundamental period of vibration in sec
= C1 H3/4
H = Height of the building above the base in m
C1 = 0.085 for steel moment resisting frames
= 0.075 for reinforced concrete moment
resisting frames and eccentrically braced
steel frames
= 0.050 for all other buildings
W = Seismic dead load
= Total permanent load plus 25% of the
floor variable (live) load for
storage and warehouse occupancies.
= Total permanent load only for other
occupancies.
Vertical distribution of base shear along the
height of the structure: (Storey shear) (Page
22, Art.2.3.3.2.3 – EBCS 8)
Portion of the base shear distributed over
the height of the structure
Fi = (Fb – Ft) Wi hi
Σ Wj hj
Ft = 0.07 T1 Fb
Example 1: A twenty storey RC framed
building has plan dimensions 15 m X 30 m.
Height of the building is 70 m. Estimate its
fundamental period of vibration.

The fundamental period of vibration

T1 = C1 H3/4
C1 = 0.075; H = 70 m
T1 = C1 H3/4
= 0.075 (70) 3/4 = 1.82 sec.
 Example 2: A four storeyed building has an
elevation shown in figure and is located in
Awassa. Determine the lateral forces and
storey shears on an inner frame due to
earthquake using the following data.
Bay width = 6 m center to center
Frame spacing = 5 m center to center
Height of ground floor =4m
Height of other floors = 3.5 m
Floor thickness including Finishes = 15
cm
 Outer columns = 25 cm x 30 cm – 2
numbers
Inner columns = 25 cm x 40 cm – 3
numbers
Girder below floor slab = 25 cm x 40 cm
Live load = 3 kN/m2
There is no wall in this frame. Consider that
the second floor is utilized fully for storage
purposes.
At any floor, half of the weight of walls and
columns below it and half of that above it are
lumped at this level along with the weight of the
floor and girder.
3.5 m

3.5 m

3.5 m

4m

6m 6m 6m 6m
Weight at ground floor

Density of concrete = 25 kN/m3

Weight of floor slab = 0.15 * 24 * 5 * 25 =
450 kN
Weight of Girder = 0.25 * 0.4 * 24 * 25 = 60 kN
Weight of outer columns
= 0.25 * 0.3 * {(4 + 3.5)/2}* 25 * 2
= 14.1 kN
Weight of inner columns
= 0.25 * 0.4 * {(4 + 3.5)/2}* 25 * 3
= 28.125 kN
Total = 552.225 kN
 Weight at first floor
Weight of floor slab = 0.15 * 24 * 5 * 25
= 450 kN
Weight of Girder = 0.25 * 0.4 * 24 * 25
= 60 kN
Weight of outer columns
= 0.25 * 0.3 * 3.5 * 25 * 2
= 13.1 kN
Weight of inner columns = 0.25 * 0.4 * 3.5 * 25 *
3
= 26.25 kN
25 % of live load = 0.25 * 3 * 24 * 5 = 90
kN
Total = 640 kN
Weight at second floor = 640 - 90 = 550 kN
Weight at roof
Weight of roof slab = 0.15 * 24 * 5 * 25
= 450 kN
Weight of Girder = 0.25 * 0.4 * 24 * 25
= 60 kN
Weight of outer columns
= 0.25 * 0.3 * 3.5/2 * 25 * 2
= 6.6 kN
Weight of inner columns
= 0.25 * 0.4 * 3.5/2 * 25 * 3
= 13.125 kN
Total = 530 kN
Weight of the columns in the
foundation
= (2 * 2 * 0.25 * 0.3 * 25) + (2 * 3
* 0.25 * 0.4 * 25)
= 22.5 kN
Total weight of the building per frame
W = 552.225 + 640 + 550 + 530 +
22.5
= 2294.5 kN
Base shear: Fb = Sd(T1)W
Sd(T) =
αβγ
α = α0 I
α0 for zone 4 (Awassa) = 0.1
I from table 2.4 = 1.0 (ordinary buildings)
α = 0.1 * 1.0 = 0.1
β = 1.2 S/T2/3
T1 = C1 H3/4
C1 = 0.075 for reinforced concrete moment
resisting frames
H = 14.5 m
T1 = 0.075 (14.5) ¾ = 0.56 sec
Considering subsoil class B, Site coefficient S = 1.2
β = 1.2 (1.2)/(0.56)2/3 = 2.12 < 2.5 Hence OK
Take β = 2.12
γ = γ0 kD kR kW ≤ 0.70
γ0 for frame system = 0.2
kD = 1.5 (considering medium ductile)
kR = 1 (considering regular structure)
kW = 1 (for frame structure)
 γ = 0.2 * 1.5 * 1 * 1 = 0.3
Sd(T) = αβγ = 0.1 * 2.12 * 0.3 = 0.0636
Base shear = 0.0636 * W
= 0.0636 * 2294.5 = 145.9 kN
Distribution of base shear to storey
Ft = 0.07 T1 Fb
= 0.07 * 0.56 * 145.9 = 5.72 kN
Fi = (Fb – Ft) Wi hi
Σ Wj hj