RESEARCH PAPER

SEISMIC ARCHITECTURE IN ZONE V

SHREYA CHAUBEY
RIDWAN AHASAN

4TH YEAR SECTION C

AIM

To study the seismic architecture of zone V and the techniques used in the construction of earthquake
resistant buildings in zone V.

OBJECTIVE

• To study the techniques used in the construction of earthquake resistant buildings in Zone V.
• To study the faults that occurred in buildings and their causes.
• To provide ideal solutions to the faults occurring in buildings of Zone V.

SCOPE

The research paper is with respect to Indian context and the study focuses on seismic architectural
techniques in Zone V only.

1. INTRODUCTION

It is well known historically and scientifically that

India has witnessed a number of the world's
greatest earthquakes in the last century. In fact,
more than 50% of the area in the country is
considered prone to damaging earthquakes.

Based on seismic data and different geological

and geophysical parameters, the country is
divided into five seismic zones. Of the five
seismic zones, zone five is the most active
region and zone one shows least seismic
activity.

The entire north-eastern region falls in zone five.

Besides the north-east, zone five also includes
the parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, western Uttarakhand hills, Rann of
Kachchh in Gujarat, northern Bihar and the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The earthquakes that occurred in the last 2-3

decades have caused significant loss of life as

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well as property. The key observations in those severely affected areas were the lack of awareness in
people about the earthquake and its consequences, and absence of a mechanism to ensure
earthquake resistant buildings. A large part of these losses are directly because of housing typologies
in practice in the country.

The Indian earthquake problem does not receive the attention of the country that it deserves
considering our overall seismic potential, and this is a tragedy. Therefore it becomes important to study
about the measures that shall be taken to minimize the destruction to a great extent.

2. LITERATURE STUDY

2.1 TECHNIQUES USED IN SEISMIC ARCHITECTURE

The seismic design procedure depends in great part on the physical properties of a building. To deliver
a reliable seismic design, all factors that influence a building’s response to earthquakes must be
considered.
To create an adequate and proper seismic design, it is important to analyze the building’s period,
torsion, ductility, strength, stiffness, damping and configuration. This analysis also helps determine
which devices and strategies to employ for the seismic design.
Some of them are listed below:

2.1.1 Shear Walls

Shear walls are elements placed to stiffen walls, which transfer lateral forces from floors and roofs to
the building foundation. Reinforced concrete shear walls in structure are an accident structural system
for earthquake resistance and help to repel graveness loss and
side loss.

2.1.2 Diaphragms

Diaphragms are floors and roofs used as rigid horizontal planes,

which transfer lateral forces to vertical elements such as walls and
structural frames. Diaphragms are typically horizontal, but can be
sloped such as in a gable roof on a wood structure or concrete
ramp in a parking garage.

2.1.3 Moment-Resisting Frames

A moment frame is a special type of frame that uses rigid connections between each of its constituent
members. This configuration is able to resist lateral and overturning forces because of the bending
moment and shear strength that is inherent in its members and the connecting joints. Therefore, the

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stiffness and strength of the moment frame in seismic design depends on the stiffness and strength of
its members.

Because moment frames can be more flexible than other options, such as shear walls, they allow
larger movements during an earthquake. Non-flexible elements attached to the frame, such as the
cladding, must be designed to accommodate the additional movement to avoid damage.

2.1.4 Braced Frames

Similar to shear walls, they are also used to

transfer lateral loads from floors and roofs to
foundations. Braced frames are used when the use
of shear walls is impractical. Bracing can be slant,
cross, triangular or eccentric which helps in the
resistance process during seismic disturbance.

2.1.5 Energy Dissipating Devices

Designing a building to be more resistant against seismic forces will increase shaking, and this may
cause interior damage. Energy dissipating devices are designed to reduce shaking, energy dissipates
when ductile materials deform in a controlled way. Some examples of energy dissipating devices are
eccentric bracing and mobile shock absorbers.

2.1.6 Base Isolation

This seismic design strategy consists of separating

the building from the foundation, using isolators to
absorb shock. As the ground shakes, the building
moves at a slower rate because isolators are
dissipating a large part of the shock. Additional space
must be considered for horizontal displacement,
since the whole building will move as a unit.

Tall buildings cannot be base isolated due to the risk

of overturning. Since they are more flexible than
low-rise buildings, their horizontal displacement must
be controlled with energy-absorbing dampers.

2.1.7 Lightweight Material

Use of lightweight materials can also repel the earthquake forces vastly in case of structure.
Featherlite concrete is one of the most popular of the new with Elite concrete accouterments.
Featherlite concrete is made using either featherlite summations aur with raising agents similar to
aluminum Greasepaint. Featherlite summations include Pumice, scoria, stormy cinders, tuff, and
diatomite. The total can also be made by heating complexion, shale, slate diatomaceous shale polite,
obsidian and vermiculite. Another popular featherlite structure material is gyprock and its colorful
products including walls, ornamental moldings, suspended ceiling and finishing poultice.

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2.2 SIMPLIFIED GUIDELINES FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFE CONSTRUCTION

2.2.1 Masonry Buildings

Since most of the buildings are constructed using brickwork or solid hollow concrete blocks with flat
roofs, very simple illustrated guidance is provided in the attached brochure for incorporating the
earthquake resistant features suitable for seismic Zone V.

2.2.1.1 Good Cement Mortar

The cement mortar should be used in
the ratio of 1 part of cement with 4
parts of sand (1 sack of cement mixed
with 4 equal sacks of sand).

2.2.1.2 Horizontal Seismic Bands

A seismic band consists of reinforced
concrete flat runner through all external
and internal masonry walls at the
following levels in the building:

a. At the plinth level of the building

b. At the levels of lintels of doors and
windows
c. At the ceiling level of roofs consisting
of wooden joists or, prefabricated
reinforced concrete beams or, planks.
Such a band will not be necessary if the
roof consists of Reinforced Concrete or
Reinforced Brick slabs cast on the walls
covering a minimum of 2/3 of the
thickness of the wall.

2.2.1.3 Vertical Reinforcements In Brick Walls

Reinforcing bars have to be embedded in brick masonry at the corners of all the rooms and the side of
the door openings. Window openings larger than 60 cm in width will also need such reinforcing bars.
The diameter of the bar depends upon the number of storeys in the building.

These vertical bars have to be started from the foundation concrete, will pass through all seismic
bands where they will be tied to the band reinforcements using binding wire and embedded to the
ceiling band/roof slab as the case may be using a 300 mm 90° bend. Sometimes the vertical bars will
not be made in one full length. In that case the extension of the vertical reinforcement bars are
required, an overlap of minimum of 50 times the bar diameter should be provided. The two overlapped
reinforcement bars should be tied together by using the binding wires.

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2.2.1.4 Vertical Reinforcements At Jambs Of Openings

All door and window openings wider than 600 mm

will have vertical reinforcement in jambs.

2.2.1.5 Foundations

In sandy soils with a high water table within 8 m

depth below ground level, which may get liquefied
during earthquakes of MSK intensity VIII to IX, pile
foundations need to be used in consultation with the
Structural Geotechnical Engineer.

2.2.2 Stone Buildings

2.2.2.1 Foundations
Rocky Ground: Weathered, jointed and fissured rock may be leveled by chiseling, in steps of about
150 mm and stepped strip footing built on it, with the foundation width of 600 mm for two storeyed
houses. The Boulder site may be leveled by removing small boulders but leaving large boulders in
place. In all cases, the base concrete of sufficient thickness (with a minimum of 100 mm) should be
used for leveling before starting the masonry.
Soil Site: Use stepped-strip foundation with minimum depth of 750 mm below ground level and width
of 700 mm (upto 2 storeyed houses). For each additional storey, increase width by 300 mm.

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2.2.2.2 Stone Masonry Walls In
Mud Mortar
The mortar should be clay mud of
good quality. The wall thickness
should preferably be kept 450mm,
but not to be larger than 500mm. In
any case, the stones of the inner
and outer wythes should be
interlocked with each other as far as
possible.The masonry should
preferably be brought to courses at
not more than 600 mm lift so as to
achieve coursed rubble masonry’.

In place of `through’ stones, `bonding elements’ of

concrete bars of 50mm x 50mm section with an
8mm dia rod placed centrally or solid concrete
blocks of 150 x150 x `wall thickness size’ may be
used.

Wall Length And Building Height: Height of the

coursed rubble masonry walls in mud mortar should
be restricted, with storey height to be kept 2.7m
maximum, and span of walls between cross walls to
be limited to 5.0 m. Preferably one storey but not
more than two storeys in Zone V.

Openings In Bearing Walls: Total length of openings in a wall should be 0.33 in Zone V. Pier width
between consecutive openings >600mm.

2.2.2.3 Stone Masonry Using Cement Mortar

The mortar in superstructure masonry should be cement-sand, 1:4 in Zone V. In the foundation
masonry upto plinth, the mix 1:6 may be kept.
The wall thickness should not be larger than 380 mm and the stones on the inner and outer wythes
should be interlocked with each other.
Through stones of full length equal to wall thickness should be used in every 600 mm lift at not more
than 1.2 m apart horizontally. In place of ‘through’ stones, ‘bonding elements’ of concrete bars of
50mm x 50mm section with an 8 mm dia rod placed centrally or solid concrete blocks of 150 x 150 x
walls thickness, can also be used.

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Wall Length and Building Height: Two storeys with flat roof or one storeys plus attic for pitched roof.
The storey height to be kept 3.2m maximum, and span of walls between cross walls to be limited to
7.0m. If rooms longer than 7m are needed, buttresses may be used at intermediate points not farther
apart than 5.0m.
Control of Openings in Bearing Walls: Ratio of total length of openings in a wall to length of the wall in
a room should not exceed 0.5 in single storeyed, 0.42 in 2-storeyed and 0.33 in 3 storeyed buildings.
Distance of opening from inside corner ≥ 450mm.
Pier width between consecutive openings ≥ 600mm

2.2.3 Earthen Houses

Sites with sandy loose soils, poorly compacted clays, and fill materials should generally be discarded due
to their excessive settlements during seismic vibrations. Also, sites with very high water tables and those in
flood prone areas should be avoided to be free from liquefaction and saturation effects on mud walls. Site
should be above high flood level or the
ground shall be raised to this effect.

2.2.3.1 Adequate Configuration Of

Earthen Buildings
A configuration of earthen buildings
suitable for construction:
- One floor construction
- Roughly square room
- Symmetric distribution of walls
- Small openings <1200 mm width

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3.1. CASE STUDY I
Date and time of occurrence : 18/09/2011 at 18:11 hrs (IST)
Magnitude : 6.8
Focal depth : 10 Km
Epicenter latitude and longitude : 27o 42’N & 88o 12’E
Region : Sikkim-Nepal Border region
Building Type Building Damages
Ekra and Timber • These structures have experienced
plank minimal direct seismogenic damage.
houses/structures: • The damage is observed to be
mainly limited to the random rubble
masonry support walls of these
structures.
• The plaster on bamboo panels is
observed to have popped out.
• 12 In a few cases, the connection of
the superstructure with the RC stilt in
these structures is observed to have
failed.
• Damage is also observed at some
isolated places in RC support frame
structure.
• Damage is also observed in the
foundation, mainly on hill slopes.
Framed buildings: Non-structural damage:
• Cracking of plaster.
• Cracking at the interface of RC
columns / beams, and filler walls.
• Cracking in filler walls ranging from
hairline cracks to severe damage that
includes separation and collapse of
the whole panels.
• Peeling off of the decorative
cladding such as tiles, stone and the
like.
• Cracking at the interface of stairs
and walls.
Technical causes Suggestions
• Damage to the Random Rubble
walls has been caused because of
poor quality construction and the
absence of earthquake resisting
features.
• Poor connection between stilts and
the house frame has resulted in
separation of the two and lateral
movement of the house
superstructure.
• Failure of the RC support structure
has happened in-spite of the light
weight of supper structure because
of failure of the foundation including
sliding of the slope.
Non-structural damage:
• Walls are excessively thin. In case
of hollow block masonry, the blocks
are often placed vertically on their
edge. This makes individual blocks
unstable, and thus adversely affects
the stability of the entire wall.
• In a large number of cases the
exterior walls are observed to rest
on the cantilever slab with no RC
columns in between. This results in
extremely long and hence, slender
walls.
• Bond amongst the concrete blocks
is observed to b e poor on account
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Structural damage:
• Hairline cracks in columns and
beams.
• Spalling off of the concrete cover.
• Deformation in reinforcement
ranging from very little to significant.
• Buckling of column reinforcement to
various degrees just below the
junction with beams or just above the
floor.
• Excessive deformation in the
member including tilting of column,
settling of column, sagging in beam
and the like.
• Tilting or settling of a part of the
structure.
• Total collapse of all or a significant
portion of the structure.
of smooth surface of the blocks.
• Surface of the columns is often
observed to be super smooth which
is attributed to the practice of
spreading plastic sheets in the
shuttering. This results in a very
poor bond with the filler walls.
• Improper connection as also total
absence of connection was
observed between the RC filler wall
reinforcement and the reinforcement
of the beams, slabs, and columns.
• Sand used for mortar is often
observed to be too fine and contain
too much silt.
Structural damage:
• The columns were often observed
to be too slender in relation to the
overall height of the structure. The
stirrups of the column were
observed to have been bent at an
angle of 90 ° instead of 135 ° .
• This is often responsible for the
opening up of rings. Absence of
rings in column through the junction
with beam.
• Overlap between the longitudinal
bars in columns too close to the
junction with the beam.
• Sand used for concrete is often too
fine and contains too much silt.
• Aggregate grading is often at
major variance with that prescribed
in the code.
• Inadequate rings in columns due to
excessive spacing, especially in the
vicinity of junction with beams and
floor.
• In many buildings there will be no
confinement of steel reinforcement
at beam and column ends,
• Stirrups were not found in the joint
region,
• The infill walls are not properly
connected with beams and columns.
• Poor quality of concrete.
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Earthen houses: • Very fine cracks as well as wide
cracks were visible in the infill walls.
• Partial collapse of walls also
happened for some of the houses.
• Diagonal cracks propagating from
openings.
• Pre-existing cracks in these
houses attributed to a variety of
reasons including earthquake, rain,
land subsidence and the others,
were observed to have widened and
become more visible.
• New cracks were observed to have
developed on account of in-plane
shear stress caused by the recent
quake.
• Roof of these houses was
observed to be not anchored to the
walls and hence, the roof is not able
to control the lateral deformation of
the walls.
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3.2. CASE STUDY II
Date and time of occurrence : 26/01/2001 at 08:46 am (IST)
Magnitude : 7.7
Focal depth : 16 Km
Epicenter latitude and longitude :23.419°N 70.232°E
Region : Kutch District of Gujarat
Building Buildings with Damage Buildings without Damages Suggestions
Type

Load Bearing
Fig : Intact
Structure : Two
Storied
Load
Bearing
Structure
At
Madhapur.

Fig: Total Collapse at Bachau 18 Km. From Epicenter.

The reasons for failure are given

below:-
• The masonry wall, mainly in mud
mortar.
• Absence of connecting band.
• No through stones were provided.
• Heavy mass concentration at roof
level. Fig: Intact Single Storied Load Bearing Structure of Railway
quarters At Aundh, 20 km from epicenter
• Buildings were close to each other.
• Unsymmetric buildings, due to full Above buildings are perfectly alright
opening at its front resulting into without any damage. The reasons are
torsional moment on the buildings listed as –
• Symmetric building.
• Structure with bands at sill level, lintel
level.
• Appropriate size and location of the
openings.
• Quality workmanship
Fig: Perfect RCC Framed Structure At Bhuj
Framed
Structures :

Fig: Total Collapse Of Framed Structure At Ahmedabad (Mansi

Tower)
Photograph shows Mansi tower which
consists of four blocks and one of the
blocks is totally collapsed. It is seen
that on this block a swimming pool
was constructed at its top, which

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resulted in asymmetry and heavy
mass concentration at the top of the
structure. Large mass at the top
means large inertia forces developed
at the top level. This resulted in the The possible reasons are as follows.
failure of a particular block of Mansi • Symmetric structure.
tower. • Proper structural design.
• Proper detailing.
• Codal provisions strictly followed.

Fig: Total Collapse Of Framed Structure At Ahmedabad

(Shikhar tower)

Fig: Exposed footing

and column of framed Structure At Ahmedabad (Shikhar tower)
• Building was not properly designed.
Size of the column and reinforcement
are not adequate even for gravity
loads.
• Looking at the photograph 7, it is
clear that the size of footing is
insufficient for the strata available.

Fig: Circular column for parking (Ground floor) after failure

Parking is generally provided on the
ground floor. No partition walls are
provided thereby lacking an inherited
stiffness due to the infilled walls. Large
moments are developed due to
earthquake forces at the ground floor.
Due to this, plastic hinges are formed
at beam columns joint in the column ,
at the plinth and floor level because of
this, the ground storey columns are
crushed.

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4. CONCLUSION

Earthquake resistant construction is a vital component of building a structure that can

withstand earthquakes. It can protect its occupants from severe damage caused by the
seismic forces. In most cases, these structures will not collapse even if they encounter severe
earthquakes. Construction methods vary widely throughout the world and can be considered
as the most practical and realistic way to build earthquake-resistant structures. It is important
to find out about local construction methods and resources before making a final decision on
how to proceed.

The seismic codes or guidelines should not be violated by Architects especially in seismic
prone zones, as architectural configuration when designed to seismic standards plays an
important role in mitigating the earthquake effects. Architects should learn about earthquake
resistant architecture, its scope & importance as a part of their academics & curriculum.

In developing countries like India, the architect should try to understand /educate the client on
the importance of safety of building rather than help in achieving more habitable space or
giving importance to building aesthetics. Architects should ensure the seismic performance of
buildings in collaboration with structural engineers. Government should initiate drills, demos,
workshops & also to ensure implementation of earthquake resistant design guidelines.
Lessons learnt from post earthquake should be documented, analyzed & ensured that proper
corrective measures are set forth for future references.

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Indian standards on Earthquake
CODE CHAPTER
IS:1893 (Part 1)- 2002 Indian Standards Criteria for
Earthquake Resistant Design of
Structures: Part 1 General
Provisions and Buildings
IS:1893- 1984 Indian Standard Criteria for
Earthquake Resistant Design of
Structures
IS:4326- 1993 Indian Standard Code of
Practice for Earthquake
Resistant Design and
Construction of Buildings
IS:13827- 1993 Indian Standard Guidelines for
Improving Earthquake
Resistance of Earthen
Buildings
GUIDELINES
This revision follows the
methods of first calculating the
actual force that is assumed to
be experienced by the structure
during the probability of biggest
earthquake, if it were to remain
elastic. Then the concept of
response reduction due to
ductile deformation or frictional
energy dissipation in the cracks
is brought into the code
explicitly, by introducing the
`response reduction factor’ in
place of the earlier performance
factor.
This standard deals with
earthquake resistant design of
structures and is applicable to
buildings; elevated structures;
bridges; dams etc. It also gives
a map which split up the
country into five seismic zones
based on the seismic intensity.
This standard provides
guidelines in finalization
materials, special features of
design and construction for
earthquake resistant buildings
including masonry construction,
timber construction,
prefabricated construction etc.
The guidelines covered in this
standard deal with the design
and construction aspects for
improving earthquake
resistance of earthen houses,
without the use of stabilizers
such as lime, cement, asphalt,
etc.
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