Module 4

CE 415c – EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

1. Title of the Module

Chapter 4 – Earthquake-Resistant Design of Structures

2. Introduction

In earthquake regions it is of paramount importance that the structural form is sound.

For the design team to provide the client with the most appropriate structure, the form should
not be fixed until adequate background information is available. The design team should know
sufficient information about the consequences of earthquake damage as well as the economic
factors in resisting the damage and the degree of risk to different types of structure on the site
to enable a wise choice of structural form to be made.

3. Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, the students must be able to:

 Apply knowledge of earthquake-resistant design to solve complex civil engineering
problems
 Identify structural failure due to earthquake loads
 Recognize the importance of earthquake-resistant design to structures
 Understand the principle of earthquake-resistant design

4. Learning Content

4.1 Criteria for Earthquake-Resistant Design

• Function
• Cost
• Reliability

In considering the means of achieving the above requirements, it is necessary to take

into account both limitations and opportunities arising from the availability of construction
materials and components and construction skills.

In seeking the optimum of the proposed construction, designers should choose forms
and materials that give best failure modes in earthquakes with functional and cost requirement.

4.2 Determination of Structural Form

 be simple;
 be symmetrical;
 not be too elongated in plan or elevation;
  have uniform and continuous distribution of strength;
 have horizontal members which form hinges before the vertical members; and
 have its stiffness related to the sub-soil properties.

1.3 Damages Due to Earthquake

1.4 Vulnerability of Structures to Earthquake
 Unnecessary horizontal and vertical changes in symmetry, mass, and stiffness will
increase a building’s vulnerability to strong ground shaking.

Unusual buildings are likely to be more vulnerable in an earthquake.

 Simplicity in a building’s floor plan reduces its vulnerability to strong ground shaking.

Changing floor plans from simple to complex and from symmetrical to asymmetrical will
increase a building’s vulnerability to ground shaking.
5. Teaching and Learning Activities

Activity:
1. Photograph at least five houses adjacent to your residence including yours.
2. Assess the vulnerability of these houses according to building elevation, and identify
its potential problems.
3. Assess the vulnerability of these house according to building plan, and identify its
potential problem.

6. Recommended Learning Materials and Resources for Supplementary Reading

National Structural Code of the Philippines 2015

Articles and data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
Any Earthquake Engineering or Earthquake-Resistant Design books/materials

7. Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM) Adopted

Online (synchronous)
TelEducation moodle, Facebook messenger, Zoom, Google Classroom, etc..

Remote (asynchronous)
module, essay activities, etc…