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.

Effect of Tuned-Mass Dampers on Seismic Response

Abstract: A realistic prototype high-rise building was designed and modeled using linear elastic (and also nonlinear) degrading stiffness idealizations. Using an effective damper mass ratio of 0.026, three different techniques were used to design an optimum tuned-mass damper (TMD) for the prototype. All were found to give essentially the same design. The response of the idealized prototype building to a strong ground motion was computed with and without a TMD. The TMD did not reduce the prototype's maximum response. Based on these results, vibration absorbers do not seem effective in reducing the maximum seismic response of tall buildings.

Inelastic responses of reinforced concrete structures to earthquake motions

Abstract: Two basic characteristics of reinforced concrete structures play an important role in determining response to strong ground motions. They are the changes in stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. Both can be related to the maximum displacement. Results of dynamic tests of reinforced concrete frames are used to illustrate the effects on dynamic response of changes in stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. It is shown that maximum inelastic response can be interpreted in terms of linearly elastic analysis by reference to a fictitious linear structure whose stiffness and damping characteristics are determined as a function of the assumed or known maximum displacement. This leads to a simplified method for estimating the design base shear taking account of inelastic response. The object of this paper is to describe basic phenomena of energy dissipation in reinforced concrete structures subjected to strong ground motion, and to present a simplified method for estimating the design base shear corresponding to inelastic response.

Performance of Buildings With Shear Walls in Earthquakes of the Last Thirty Years

Abstract: The author describes observations of shear wall performance in severe earthquakes in which modern reinforced concrete buildings stood the test of violent shaking, starting with the Chilean earthquake of May 1960 through most of the subsequent strong earthquakes, up until the Armenian earthquake of December 1988. Despile the excellent behavior of shear wall-type concrete structures as compared to concrete frame-type structures, building codes continued, up until the last decade, to give preference to concrete ductile frame structures (which are subject to higher distortions) while placing a substantial penally on the use of shear walls. This code approach was due to the lack of experimental and analytical background information on shear wall behavior. While a large body of information on shear walls accumulated during the 1980s, still more experimental and analytical studies are needed to create a solid basis for a rational seismic design approach. The availability of such information should encourage a wider use of shear walls for earthquake resistance

Influence of ADAS Element Parameters on Building Seismic Response

Abstract: Supplemental damping devices have been used to decrease the dynamic response of buildings subjected to wind and earthquake inputs. These devices can be generalized into the following three major types: friction devices, viscous or viscoelastic devices, and material yield devices. Lead dampers would be included in this last case, even though its characteristics do not involve yielding. A study of one of the metallic yield devices, the steel‐plate added damping and stiffness (ADAS) device, is presented. Yield force, yield displacement, strain‐hardening ratio, ratio of the device stiffness to the bracing member stiffness, and ratio of device stiffness to structural story stiffness without the device in place have been identified as the most important parameters to characterize the performance of this device. The influence of these parameters on earthquake response of building structures is analyzed. The results show that these devices can substantially increase the energy dissipation capacity of a structure ...

Evaluating Strength and Stiffness of Unreinforced Masonry Infill Structures

Abstract: : Masonry has been used for hundreds of years around the world in construction projects ranging from simple roadways to complex arch designs. Masonry is also commonly used in frame building structures as infill to either protect the inside of the structure from the environment or to divide inside spaces. During the design and analysis of steel/reinforced concrete frame structures, infill has commonly been ignored. Contrary to common practice, masonry infills do influence the overall behavior of structures when subjected to lateral forces. The influence of infills on overall behavior of the structure has been found to change with the direction in which the load is applied. This report gives guidelines on evaluating the lateral load capacity of infilled panels for in-plane and out-of-plane loading. Further guidelines account for the effect of out-of-plane loading on in-plane capacity. This report is a complement to applicable provisions in FEMA 310 with respect to seismic evaluation of buildings. These guidelines should prove useful for engineering evaluations of the lateral strength of buildings with respect to wind or earthquake forces. The guidelines give the engineer a strength-based alternative to FEMA 273 a performance-based method, which should also result in safe and economical construction.