Earthquake resistant structures

About: Earthquake resistant structures is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1126 publications have been published within this topic receiving 27467 citations.

Seismic lateral pressures in soils with cohesion

Abstract: A full-range, elastic-plastic solution for seismic stresses in the free field is obtained for an ideal Mohr-Coulomb material with cohesion. In addition, the effect of uniform surface tractions are included as are both constant vertical and horizontal acceleration components. Moreover, the basic equations are general in that they include both the active and passive cases where the lateral boundaries deform in a similar fashion but move less or more in magnitude than the free field dictates. Thus, this solution can be used directly to determine the seismic lateral pressures on walls or, for the special case when no wall is needed, the critical seismic height of a vertical cut in a cohesive soil. Conversely, the equations can be used to find the critical acceleration level at which a wall with a given factor of safety will move in an earthquake. Finally, once this critical earthquake intensity level is determined, the actual incremental accumulation of displacement of a given wall can be calculated by the simple sliding-block approach or a wall can be designed to limit the seismic displacement to an acceptable level.

Design of connections of earthquake resisting precast reinforced concrete perimeter frames

Abstract: Moment resisting perimeter frames are an excellent means of providing the earthquake resistance in medium height multistory buildings. These frames can be constructed using precast reinforced concrete elements designed to emulate conventional cast-in-place construction. Construction of earthquake resistant buildings incorporating ductile precast reinforced concrete perimeter frames is widespread in New Zealand. The main problem in the design and construction of structures incorporating precast concrete elements to provide seismic resistance is in finding economical and practical methods of connecting the elements. This paper discusses the design and detailing of the connection region between members of earthquake resisting perimeter frames.

Spectrum-Compatible Motions for Design Purposes

Abstract: A practical method is presented to obtain synthetic motions that closely match a reasonable specified deisgn spectrum for a seismic design of important earthquake-resistant structures and equipment. The principle of this method is to modify existing motions. For this purpose, a spectrum-suppressing technique and a spectrum-raising technique are developed. Examples are then given to illustrate their applicability to actual structure design.

Soil Conditions and Building Damage in 1967 Caracas Earthquake

Abstract: Although the magnitude of the 1967 Caracas earthquake was only 6.4 and its epicenter was located about 35 miles from Caracas, the shaking caused the collapse of four 10-story to 12-story apartment buildings in Caracas, with a loss of over 200 lives, and the partial collapse (top 4 stories) of a 12-story building at Carabelleda. Detailed studies were made of the distribution of structural damage to buildings in different story height ranges, the depth and dynamic characteristics of soils throughout the area, and the response of typical soil deposits during the earthquake. Both empirical and analytical evidence indicate that the locations of zones of heavy damage may be attributed to unfavorable combinations of soil conditions and building characteristics which resulted in particularly strong response of the damaged structures. Of particular significance was the finding that recently developed analytical techniques can predict the general pattern of damage in the 1967 earthquake.