Earthquake Design Using
1997 Uniform Building Code
Dr. Hathairat Maneetes
Department of Rural Roads
The UBC was introduced in the 1927…
• From the early 80’s, the
earthquake design provisions in
UBC changed rapidly and
substantially in response to the
lessons learned from several Soft
major earthquakes (e.g. 1971 story
San Fernando earthquake and
1994 Northridge earthquake)
Spiral
1971 San ties
Fernando
earthquake Normal
ties
Confinement
Another example of soft story
effects
1997 UBC has several important modifications
following the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
1994 Northridge earthquake
Some of the major changes include
• Strength-based (compared with
allowable stress approach for the
previous versions)
• Removal of pre-qualified steel
connection details
• Requirements to consider liquefaction
• Addition of near-fault factor to base
shear formulation
• Deformation compatibility
requirements
• Redundancy requirements
• Stricter detailing for non-participating
elements
• Aligned with NEHRP’s provisions for
smooth transition into International
Building Code (IBC) in 2000
Three model buildings codes for seismic design
in the United States.
Three model building codes in US:
– BOCA National Building Code
(NBC) by BOCA
NEHRP SEAOC
– Uniform Building Code (UBC) by
ICBO
– Standard Building Code (SBC) by
SBCCI
Materials code
accompanying IBC ASCE 7
SBC BOCA
NBC
There are three methods to estimate inertia or
earthquake forces.
Resultant (inertia)
earthquake force
distribution
• Response (time) history method
– Linear (elastic) or nonlinear (inelastic)
– Apply acceleration history directly to base of
numerical model of structure
• Response spectrum method
– Linear (elastic) approach to calculate the
modal (peak values) responses
Ground
– Modal responses combined (using SRSS or
acceleration CQC) to give design values
time
• Equivalent static-force method
– Linear approach (assume response
Earthquake dominated by 1st mode response)
acceleration
– Nonlinear approach used for rehabilitation
(“Push-over” analysis)
Complexity
Typical response spectrum of a particular
ground motion.
Peak response acceleration, ar,peak
Idealized for design
purposes
Actual
Short to
medium
period Long Period Period (T)
M Period
M
K T 2
K
a Ground
acceleration
time
The equivalent static force procedure is a simplification
of the dynamic response spectrum method.
Consider more than one
mode to get realistic
results
Response
Spectrum
Method
T6 T5 T4 T3 T2 T1
Building model Multiple (e.g. Decoupled
six) degrees SDOF
of freedom
Consider only the
Equivalent fundamental (1st) mode
to simply analysis
Static
force
Method T1
UBC-97 is specific about which analysis method
may or must be used.
Static Lateral-force Seismic Regular structure Irregular
Procedure limitations: Zones structure
1
• All structures (regular or
irregular) in Seismic Zone 1 or
in Zone 2 with occupancy 2A and 2B
category 4 or 5. (with
occupancy
category 4
or 5)
• Regular structures using one
of the structural systems
listed in Table 16-N if they
are under 240 feet 3,4
(7,315.2cm) in height.
• Irregular structures not more
than 5 stories or 65 feet < 240 < 5 stories or 65
(1,981.2cm) in height. feet feet
If these conditions are not satisfied, the structure
shall be designed using dynamic method.
• Structures with a flexible upper
portion supported on a rigid lower
portion if all of the following
conditions are met: So how do we
define building
– When both portions are irregularities with
considered separately, they can
both be classified as regular. respect to
– The average story stiffness of earthquake design?
the lower portion is at least ten
times the average story stiffness
of the upper portion.
– The period of the whole structure
is no more than 1.1 times the
period of the upper portion
considered as a separate
structure fixed at the base.
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Vertical Kx < 0.7Kx+1 or
Irregularities
Kx < 0.8 (Kx+1 + Kx+2 + Kx+3)/3
Where K is the story lateral stiffness
x+3
x+2
x+1
Stiffness irregularity –
UBC-97 Table 16-L soft story
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Vertical
Irregularities Wx+1 > 1.5Wx or Wx+1 > 1.5Wx+2
Where W is the story effective weight (or
mass)
x+2
x+1
Weight (mass)
UBC-97 Table 16-L irregularity
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Vertical Where bi: Horizontal
Irregularities b1 > 1.3b2 dimension of lateral
force-resisting system at
b2 story i
Lateral
force
resisting
elements
b1
Vertical geometric
UBC-97 Table 16-L irregularity
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Vertical l2: offset
Irregularities l2 > l1
l1: length of lateral-load
l2 resisting elements
l1
In-plane discontinuity in
UBC-97 Table 16-L vertical lateral-force
resisting element
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Vertical
Irregularities Sx+1/Sx < 0.8
Where S: Total strength of
lateral force resisting elements
x+1
Discontinuity in capacity
UBC-97 Table 16-L – weak story
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Plan Irregularities
Torsional irregularity – to
be considered when
UBC-97 Table 16-M diaphragms are not flexible
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height. Deformation
incompatibility
Less stiff; more leading to stress
Stiffer; less
concentration
Plan Irregularities deformation deformation
Stress
concentration
s
Re-entrant corners
UBC-97 Table 16-M
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Plan Irregularities
Aopening > 0.5Agross
Agross Open
Aopening
Diaphragm discontinuity
UBC-97 Table 16-M
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Vertical lateral force resisting
Plan Irregularities elements offset out-of-plane
Out-of-plane offsets
UBC-97 Table 16-M
There are two types of irregularities, on plan or
along the building height.
Plan Irregularities
These lateral
force resisting
elements are
not parallel to
major axes
These lateral
force resisting
elements are
not parallel
and symmetric
to major axes
Nonparallel systems
UBC-97 Table 16-M
The UBC-97 governing equations are …
Spectral Acceleration
C
Estimation of Total Base Shear 2.5Ca Ts V
2.5C a
CV I T0 0.2Ts
Equation 30-4 V W
RT
CV
But need not be greater than T
2.5C a I
Equation 30-5 V W Ca
R
But need to be at least
Equation 30-6 V 0.11Ca IW T0 Ts Period (T)
UBC-97 Design Spectra
Equation 30-7
0.8ZNV IW
V (for Seismic zone 4)
R
Inertial forces is developed from
Newton’s Second Law.
Damping
Lumped ar = a ar = f(M, K, a, c)
mass (M)
ar = a
F = M.a F = M ar
F = M.a
Flexible with
Infinitely rigid
stiffness K
a a a
Rigid box of Ground
mass M fixed acceleration
time
to the ground
RIGID NON-RIGID BODY
BODIES
UBC-97 has broadly zoned US territories into
six seismic zones.
Seismic
Zones
0
1
seismic risk
Increasing
2A
2B
UBC-97 Figure 16-2: 3
Seismic Zone Map of 4
the United States
Each seismic zone is assigned a factor that
corresponds to the maximum ground acceleration.
Seismic Seismic
Zone Zone Factor
Z
0 0
1 0.075
2A 0.15
2B 0.2
3 0.3
4 0.4
UBC-97 Table 16-I
The “effective” ground acceleration imparted to
the structure is affected by the soil conditions.
UBC-97 Table 16-J
a = ag a ag
a a Reference soil
type
ag
Default soil profile
Ground
acceleration ag
based on SB
soil profile Other soil profiles tend to
(i.e. rock). amplify the ground a < ag (Hard rock, rock)
acceleration impart to the
structure base a > ag (All other soil profiles)
Seismic coefficients represent the seismicity of the
region and the characteristics of the soil.
Seismic Coefficient Ca Seismic Coefficient Cv
ag
UBC-97 Table 16-Q a UBC-97 Table 16-R
“Short” to “medium” period “Long” period
Response Modification Factor to account for
nonlinear building response.
• Need to consider the Base Shear
Elastic response
inherent ability of the
structure to reduce the V
Reduction in
earthquake forces through earthquake forces
overstrength, ductility and arising from nonlinear
damping. building response
V/R
• A response reduction “Actual” Inelastic
factor or R-factor is response
introduced to account for
the beneficial effects of Higher
nonlinear building behavior. ductility
Displacement
• R-value greater than 1,
inelastic response is s
assumed and earthquake M = (0.7R)s
forces is reduced.
R-value is a convenient method to describe the
nonlinear response of the structural system.
Total V
Base
System 1
Shear
V/R1
Increase in inelastic
response
System 2
V/R2
System 3
V/R3
R3 > R2 > R3
Displacement
UBC-97 categories 7 basic structural systems with
R-values varying from 2.2 to 8.5
• These are
maximum values
for each structural
system type; lower
value can be used
if required.
• Great care must
be exercised in
selecting the R-
value!
UBC-97 Table 16-N
What are the common structural systems?
Lateral
Gravity
Bearing wall Building frame Moment-resisting Dual
frame system
• Supports all • Frame carries • Specially detailed • Similar to building
gravity and lateral gravity (i.e. gravity frame to support frame system
loads frame both gravity and except the gravity
• Lack redundancy • Shear walls or lateral loads frame also provide
• R-value varies braced frames • High level of secondary lateral
from 2.8 to 5.5 carry lateral load ductility and force resistance.
• Need to consider redundancy • R-value varies
deformation • R-value varies from 4.2 to 8.5
compatibility from 3.5 to 8.5
• R-value varies
from 5.5 to 7.0
Examples of structural systems
Building frames
Column
Beam
Concentric braced frames (CBF)
Example of moment resisting connection
Moment frame
Steel eccentric braced Example of simple shear connection
frame (EBF) Special truss moment
frame
For essential or hazardous
buildings, the margin of
safety in seismic design needs
to be higher
• The importance factor is
used to increase the
earthquake force
• Depends on the occupancy
category.
• In UBC-97, I is 1.25 for
essential facilities and
hazards facilities; no
enhancement for other
facilities.
UBC-97 Table 16-K
UBC-97 Load Combinations
Strength level
U = 1.2D + f1L + 1.0E f1 = 1.0 for public assembly LL>100 psf(4.9kN/m2)
Vertical
U = 0.9D + 1.0E = 1.0 for garage LL
component = 0.5 for other LL
where E = Eh + Ev
where Ev = 0.5CaID
1.2D + 0.5L + Ev
Working stress level
F = D + (W or E/1.4)
F = 0.9D + (E/1.4) 1.2D + 0.5L + Ev
F = D + 0.75 [L + (Lr or S) + (W or E/1.4)]
Eh
OR 1.2D + 0.5L + Ev
F = 4/3[D + L + (W or E/1.4)]
F = 4/3[D + L + (E/1.4)]
Numerical Example – Static lateral-force
procedure Non-bearing
• Determine the design seismic forces for the three- shear wall
story reinforced concrete shear wall shown using
UBC-97 static lateral-force procedure. The building 11 ft
is located in Southeastern California on rock with a
shear wave velocity of 3,000 ft/sec. The story dead 11 ft
loads are 2,200 kips, 2,000 kips and 1,700 kips for
the 1st, 2nd and roof level, respectively. The shear 13 ft
walls do not carry significant vertical loads.
(Adapted from Naeim (2001))
IMPORTANT: Always check the Building
applicability of the method is
assumed
• Building of regular construction to be
• No plan or height irregularity located
• Total height = 35 feet < 240 feet here
UBC-97 static lateral-force method
is applicable.
UBC-97 Figure 16-2: Seismic Zone Map of the United States
Numerical Example – Static lateral-force
procedure
UBC-97 Table
• Seismic Importance Factor, I = 1.0
Seismic16-I Seismic
(Assumed non-essential facility) Zone Zone
Factor Z
• Location is in Seismic Zone 3
0 0
Seismic Zone Factor, Z = 0.3 1 0.075
• Shear velocity = 3,000 ft/sec. 2A 0.15
Soil Profile Type is SB i.e., rock 2B 0.2
3 0.3
UBC-97 Table 16-J 4 0.4 Note
corrections
• Seismic Coefficients: CV = 0.3, Ca = 0.3
UBC-97 Table 16-Q UBC-97 Table 16-R
Numerical Example – Static lateral-force
procedure
UBC-97 Table 16-N
Response modification factor:
• Non-load bearing shear
wall, recommended highest
R-value is 5.5
• Height limit is
240 ft > 35 ft (OK)
Note
corrections
Numerical Example – Static lateral-force
procedure V (kips)
Estimation of Total Base Shear 1,109.7
804.5
CV I
V W
(0.3)(1.0)
5,900 1,109.7kips
RT (5.5)(0.29)
194.7
But need not be greater than 0.29
Period (sec)
2.5C a I
V W
2.5(0.3)(1.0)
5,900 804.5kips
R (5.5)
But need to be at least
V 0.11Ca IW 0.11(0.3)(1.0)5,900 194.7kips
design base shear = 804.5 kips
Numerical Example – Static lateral-force
procedure
Vertical Distribution of the Earthquake Forces.
Level x Story Story Wxhx x 103 Seismic force Story Story over-
height hx weight wx at each level shear turning
(ft) (kips) (kips.ft) Fx (kips) Vx (kips) moment
Mx (kips.ft)
3 35 1,700 59.5 351.7 351.7 3,869
2 24 2,000 48.0 283.7 635.4 10,858
1 13 2,200 28.6 169.1 804.5 21,317
Σ 5,900 136.1 804.5
351.7 kips Level 3 Use load combination!
283.7 kips Level 2 U = 1.2D + 0.5L + 1.0E
169.1 kips Level 1 U = 0.9D + 1.0E
Numerical Example – Static lateral-force
procedure
Determine story drift limits
Maximum inelastic response displacement: M = 0.7Rs
Rearranging, we have s = M/0.7R
Where M < 0.025h for T < 0.7sec (UBC-97, Section 1630.10)
1st story: s < (0.025)(13)/0.7(5.5) = 1.01 in
Other stories: s < (0.025)(11)/0.7(5.5) = 0.858 in
Other important considerations
• Orthogonal effects : 100% in one direction + 30% in the
orthogonal effects (UBC-97 Section 1633.1)
• Multiple lateral force resisting systems; requirements of
more restrictive one governs (UBC-97 Section 1633.2.2)
• Seismic design connections must be clearly detailed in
drawings (UBC-97 Section 1633.2.3)
• Deformation compatibility (UBC-97 Section 1633.2.4)
• Familiarity with accompanying material codes , etc.
Time History Analysis...
Oakland, CA
The natural frequencies fell within the dominating
frequency range of the ground motions.
0.25
GILROY
0.4
Fourier Amplitude 0.2 0.3
0.2
Acceleration (g)
0.15 0.1
0
-0.1
0.1
-0.2
-0.3
0.05 -0.4
0 5 10 15 20
0 Time (sec)
0 2 4 6 8 10
0.35 Frequency (Hz)
0.4
0.3
0.3
EL CENTRO
0.25 0.2
Fourier Amplitude
Acceleration (g)
0.1
0.2
0
0.15 -0.1
-0.2
0.1 -0.3
0.05 -0.4
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Time (sec)
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
0.2 Frequency (Hz)
0.2
0.15
0.15
Fourier Amplitude
HOLLISTER 0.1
Acceleration (g)
0.05
0.1 0
-0.05
-0.1
0.05 -0.15
-0.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
0 Time (sec)
0 2 4 6 8 10
Frequency (Hz)
The 3 OR 7 pairs of recorded ground motions
were scaled to match the design spectrum.
SRSS of GILROY (N-S and E-W)
0.2T 1.5T
x scale factor1 1.00
0.90
PGA = 0.367 g
0.80
Spectral Acceleration (g)
0.70
SRSS of EL CENTRO (N-S and E-W) Average
0.60 response
x scale factor2 spectrum
0.50
PGA = 0.371 g 0.40
0.30 1.4 x Design Spectrum
SRSS of HOLLISTER (N-S and E-W) 0.20
x scale factor3 0.10
0.00
PGA = 0.177 g 0.612 4.587
0 1 2 3 4 5
Period (sec)
If 3 analyses performed, use the maximum response.
If 7 analyses performed, use the average response.
An Innovative Design – Structural Control
What’s an innovative design???
Conventional design
– ductility-based approach
– nonlinear behavior of the structure
– Some damage may occur
Energy-based design
– ‘protective approach’
– ‘structural control’
– classified into 3 groups: passive, active and semi-
active, hybrid controls
INTRODUCTORY - Passive Control
• Incorporating passive devices to control the structural
motion and to modify its dynamic parameters (stiffness
and damping).
Seismic (base) isolation Passive EDS Mass damper
INTRODUCTORY - Passive Control
Source-Sink Analogies [Popov et al., 1993]
Viscous Fluid
Damper
How to choose the appropriate system
for your building???
http://www.oiles.co.jp/en/menshin/building/index.html
INTRODUCTORY - Active Control
• Control motion of
structure through
some external energy
source.
Schematic Details [Chaidez, 2003] Analogy with Human Body (Servio Model)
INTRODUCTORY – Hybrid Systems
A series or parallel combination of an active (or semi-
active) system with a passive system.
Active Control with Base Isolation System [Chaidez, 2003; Iemura, 1994]
Thank you for your attention!
Any Questions ???
