9/1/21, 5:55 PM UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example - Structural Guide

Structural loads, structural analysis and structural design are simply

explained with the worked example for easiness of understanding.
Element designs with notes and discussions have added to get
comprehensive knowledge. Also, construction materials, shoring system
design, water retaining structures, crack width calculations, etc. have
discussed in addition to other aspects. 

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Seismic Design Principles – Factors to be

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UBC 1997 Seismic
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Design Example
 UBC 1997 Seismic Design BY PRASAD ·

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► Bridge (3)
► Construction (12)
► Design (7)
UBC 1997 seismic design example
► Design and Construction (26)
includes the calculation of the base shear
► Design Loads (5)
► Design to BS 5950 (4)
and its distribution over a three-story
► Design to BS 8110 (11) building. Further, relevant areas to the
► Design to EC2 (11) design are also discussed in this article. Privacy - Terms
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9/1/21, 5:55 PM UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example - Structural Guide

► Foundation Design (17) UBC 1997 seismic design process is

► Geotechnical Design (8) discussed in another article on the web
► Materials (29) site. This article is a UBC 1997 seismic
► Post Tension (2)
design example that elaborates the
► Retaining Structures (11)
calculation process in actual conditions.
▼ Seismic Design (8)
»  Design Strength Enhancement The figure below indicates the structural
»  Seismic Design [Things to be known]
arrangement considered for UBC 1997
»  Seismic Design Principles - Factors to be
seismic design example.
Considered
»  Seismic Detailing of Beams and Columns
»  Seismic Earth Pressure Coefficient
»  UBC 1997 Seismic Design
»  UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example
»  Water Pressure Due to Earthquake
► Servisibility Design (15)
► Special Designs (25)
► Structural Detaling (14)
► Structural Failures (4)
► Testing (13)

This worked example is a static method

of calculating the force to do the static
analysis. The concept of this method is
the lumped mass. We consider the mass
of the structure is lumped at each floor
level in this calculation.

Distribution of the forces due to the

earthquake is done accordingly in
following UBC 1997 seismic design
example.

The following data were considered in

this UBC 97 seismic design example.

Zone factor: Seismic zone represent

the peak ground acceleration that Privacy - Terms

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9/1/21, 5:55 PM UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example - Structural Guide

the structure is subjected to. In this

example, I considered the building
located in Zone 01 where the peak
ground acceleration is 0.075g (g-
gravitational acceleration).
Therefore, Z = 0.075 – Table 16-I
Soil Profile Type – SB – Rock –
Appropriate category could be
obtained from Table 16-J
Cv = 0.08 – Table 16-R – based on
zone factor and soil profile type
Ca = 0.08 – Table 16-Q – based on
the Zone factor and soil profile type
Ct = 0.0731 – Reinforced concrete
moment resisting frame – for this
work example
R = 3.5 – Table 16-N – Ordinary
moment-resisting frame – for this
working example
I = 1 – Table 16-K – Occupancy
category
hn = 12m – Total height of the
structure

Let’s calculate the period of the structure.

T = Ct(hn)3/4

T = Ct(hn)3/4 = 0.0731(12)3/4  = 0.471 s

Seismic weight of the structure

W = 100 + 100 + 60 = 260 kN

Generally, the seismic weight is the self-

weight of the structure. However,
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9/1/21, 5:55 PM UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example - Structural Guide

depending on the type of the structure

and as specified in UBC 97, the relevant
components of the live load could be
added to the dead weight.

Further, other permanent loads like

super-imposed dead loads, machines on
the floor, etc should be considered for
the seismic dead weight.

Let’s calculate the base shear

V = ( CvI / RT ) W

V = ( 0.08 x 1 / 3.5 x 0.471 ) 260 = 12.618

kN

Check whether the base shear is within

the limit.

Vmax = ( 2.5 Ca I / R ) W

Vmax = ( 2.5 x 0.08 x 1 / 3.5 ) 260 = 14.857

kN

Vmin = 0.11 Ca I W

Vmin = 0.11 x 0.08 x 1 x 260 = 2.288 kN

Hence,

Vmax  < V < Vmin OK.

T = 0.471 s < 0.7 s

Therefore, no need to consider, Ft

Ft = 0 Privacy - Terms

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9/1/21, 5:55 PM UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example - Structural Guide

Ft  – is the portion of base shear(V)

considered concentrated at the top of
the structure in addition to the forces
distributed from base shear.

Further, Ft is taken not greater than 0.25 V

where the T > 0.7  and it can be
calculated from the following equation.

Ft  = 0.07 T V

Force to be applied in the static analysis

can be calculated from the following
equation.

In this UBC 1997 seismic design example,

Ft = 0.

Forces to be applied at each floor level

can be calculated as follows.

F1 = 12.618 x 100 x 4 / [100 x 4 + 100 x 8 +

60 x 12] = 12.618 x 400 / 1920 = 2.629 kN

F2 = 12.618 x 100 x 8 / [100 x 4 + 100 x 8 +

60 x 12] = 12.618 x 800 / 1920 = 5.258 kN

F3 = 12.618 x 60 x 12 / [100 x 4 + 100 x 8 +

60 x 12] = 12.618 x 720 / 1920 = 4.732 kN

These forces could be applied to the

computer model, and bending, shear, Privacy - Terms

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9/1/21, 5:55 PM UBC 1997 Seismic Design Example - Structural Guide

deflection could be obtained from the

same to proceed with the desing.

Further, limiting values of the drift, etc

shall be checked as per the code
requirement as discussed in the article
UBC 1997 seismic design.

In addition, for more information on

seismic designs, the Wikipedia article
earthquake engineering  could be
studied.

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