Empirical equations for estimation of seismic forces on nonstructural components in RC buildings

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 MSc Student, Department of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 MSc, Department of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

10.22065/jsce.2022.338106.2784

Abstract

The seismic damage to the nonstructural components in the past historic events is significant. The nonstructural components have a substantial share in the expenses of the building construction. In addition, the loss associated to the nonstructural components can be comparable to the structural elements. Thus, it is essential to have a robust procedure for estimating the seismic force on the nonstructural components. In this paper, the 2800 and ASCE7-22 seismic codes prescribed equivalent lateral force and modal methods for estimating the seismic forces on nonstructural components are assessed. The equivalent lateral force procedure results in conservative results leading to overdesign restrainers. Adjustment factors are proposed for the equivalent lateral force procedure prescribed by the 2800 seismic code. An empirical equation is also developed for estimating the seismic force on the nonstructural components. The proposed equation is obtained and validated using a database of 196 floor accelerations from real reinforced concrete moment frames in Tehran, Iran. The proposed empirical equation does not need data from the dynamic parameters of the investigated building. Results reveal that the whipping phenomenon on the roof level yields high level of forces in that level. Finally, the peak floor accelerations obtained from the proposed equations are compared to those calculated using code prescribed procedures.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 24 July 2022
  • Receive Date: 20 April 2022
  • Revise Date: 07 July 2022
  • Accept Date: 24 July 2022