CENG 6502 Earthquake Engineering

RESPONSE OF LINEAR ELASTIC S.D.O.F

SYSTEMS TO EARTHQUAKE LOADING

Tesfaye Alemu (PhD), AASTU

 Earthquake Response of Linear System
In this lecture, we will study the earthquake response of linear
SDOF systems subjected to earthquake excitations.
By definition, linear systems are elastic systems.
They are also referred to as linearly elastic systems to
emphasize both properties. Non-linear inelastic system
Elastic-perfectly plastic
Non-linear elastic system
system (Elasto plastic
fs Linear elastic system fs system)

Area enclosed by
No energy is absorbed the curve = Energy
by systems absorbed by system
u u
 Effective Earthquake Force
Consider a single story frame with lumped mass. Let the frame at
the base displaces by an amount ug due to seismic waves. As a result
lumped mass at the top displaces by an amount ut ,such that:
t
u = u +u g

Where ug= Ground displacement. ut=Total displacement at the top end and u
= Dynamic displacement of lumped mass at the top w.r.t shifted base.
3
Effective Earthquake Force

The equation of motion for the frame subjected to the

earthquake excitation can be derived by using the
using dynamic equilibrium of forces as:

f I +f D +f S =0
 Effective Earthquake Force
Only the relative motion u between the mass and the base cause
structural deformation which produces elastic and damping forces.

Thus for a linear system the inertial force fI is related to the

t
acceleration u of the mass by: t
f = mu ;
I

f D
= cu and f s = ku
 Effective Earthquake Force

By substituting the value of fI , the equation of motion become:

mu t +cu  +ku =0

or m(u g + u ) + cu + ku = 0
or mu +cu  +ku = −mu g (t)
Comparing with mu +cu
 +ku =p(t)
p(t) = p eff (t) = −mu g (t)
The term on the right-hand side of the equation may be regarded as
the Effective earthquake force.
 Effective Earthquake Force
p eff ( t ) = mu g (t)

Base moving with u g (t)

Effective earthquake force: horizontal ground motion

Thus the ground motion can be replaced by the effective earthquake

force (indicated by the subscript “eff”. Since this force is
proportional to the mass, thus, by increasing the mass the structural
designer increases the effective earthquake force
Strong motion record

Typical strong motion record

Strong motion record
Strong earthquakes can generally be classified into three groups:
1. Practically a single shock: Acceleration, velocity, and displacement
records for one such motion are shown in figure. A motion of this type
occurs only at short distances from the epicenter, only on firm ground, and
only for shallow earthquakes.

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013)

Strong motion record
A moderately long, extremely irregular motion : The record of the
earthquake of El Centro, California in 1940, NS component exemplifies
this type of motion. It is associated with moderate distances from the focus
and occurs only on firm ground. On such ground, almost all the major
earthquakes originating along the Circumpacific Belt are of this type.
Strong motion record
A long ground motion exhibiting pronounced prevailing periods of
vibration: A portion of the accelerogram obtained during the earthquake of
1989 in Loma Prieta is shown in figure to illustrate this type. Such motions
result from the filtering of earthquakes of the preceding types through
layers of soft soil within the range of linear or almost linear soil behavior
and from the successive wave reflections at the interfaces of these layers.
 Strong ground motions recorded in various earthquakes

ug

t
Figure : Ground motions recorded
during several earthquakes.
Strong ground motion: Near source effect

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013) 13

 Accelerogram used in these lectures

Ground acceleration, ug

Ground velocity, u g

Ground displacement, u g

N-S component of horizontal ground acceleration recoded at El Centro, California

during the Imperial Valley earthquake of 1940

14
 Equation of motion for SDOF system subjected
to EQ excitations

≡
c k
mu + cu + ku = −mu g (t) ⇒ u + u + u = −u g (t)
m m
k
Since c = ζc = ζ ( 2mω ) and =ω
m
cr n n

u + 2ζωn u
⇒  + ω n u =−
u g (t) 2
Response quantities

Response is the structural system

reaction to a demand coming from
ground acceleration record

Thus a response quantity may be structural displacement,

velocity, acceleration, internal shear, bending moment, axial force
etc.
t
Sometime, the total acceleration, u o , of the mass would be
needed if the structure is supporting sensitive equipment and
the motion imparted to the equipment is to be determined.
Response quantities
One of the important response quantity is total lateral displacement
t
u
at the top end of structural system, o , required to provide enough
separation between adjacent buildings to prevent their pounding
against each other during an earthquake

Pounding damage, Hotel de carlo, Mexico city, 1985 earthquake

 Solution to equation of motion for SDOF system
subjected to EQ excitation
u +2ζωn u
 +ω n u =−u g (t)2

The time variation of ground displacement, from the given time

variation of ground acceleration, can be determined by using any
appropriate time stepping numerical method.
Closer the time interval, more accurate will be solution. Typically, the
time interval is chosen to be 1/100 to 1/50 of a second, requiring 1500 to
3000 ordinates to describe the round motion of above given El- Centro ,
1940, ground acceleration record having
CE-409: MODULE a duration of 30 sec.
6 (Fall-2013) 18
 Structural disp.,u , due to ground acceleration,ug

El Centro,1940, u
 g , g
ground acceleration  go = 0.319g
u

SDOF system with

T = 0.5sec, ζ = 2%
n

Tn = 0.5sec, ζ = 2%
Corresponding relative
displacement at the top
end of the SDOF frame u, in
Influence of Tn and ζ on Peak displacement, uo ,
in a liner elastic SDOF system

u +2ζω u
 +ω u = −u (t)
2

n n g

The above given equation indicates that u = f(T , ζ )

n

Thus any two systems having the same values of Tn and ζ will have
the same deformation response u(t) even though one system may
be more massive than the other or one may be stiffer than the other
 Effect of Tn on Deformation
response history

u g , g
 go = 0.319g
u

El Centro ground acceleration

In general, peak value of

displacement at the top end of a
SDOF increases with the increase
in the time period of the system.
Response of SDOF systems with different values of Tn to
21
El Centro
CE-409: MODULE ground acceleration
6 (Fall-2013) 21
 Effect of ζ on Deformation
response
history

u g , g

 go = 0.319g
u

El Centro ground acceleration

In general, peak value of

displacement at the top end of a
SDOF increases with the decrease
in the damping ratio of the system

Response of SDOF systems with different values of ζ to

23
El Centro ground
CE-409: MODULE acceleration
6 (Fall-2013)
Approximate Periods of Vibration (ASCE 7-05)

Where h is the height of building in ft.

Approximate Periods of Vibration
Thus, structural systems with Tn=0.5sec, 1 and 2 sec may be considered
as 5, 10 and 20 story height buildings, respectively.
A building with 3 story height can be considered as Multi DOF system
with at least 3 DOFs.
To keep the discussion simple at this stage, it will be a reasonable
assumption to state that (
out of 3 natural time periods of the 3 story building) we consider only
fundamental natural time period (Tn=0.3 sec) to determine the response
quantities for the building.
Later on we will discuss how all 3 vibration modes (and the
corresponding natural time periods) are calculated and are taken into
account to find the total response of a building with DOF =3
Because the empirical period formula is based on measured response of
buildings, it should not be used to estimate the period for other types of
structure (bridges, dams, towers).
Response spectrum concept

A plot of the peak value of a response quantity as a function of the

natural vibration period Tn of the system, or a related parameter such
as circular frequency ωn or cyclic frequency fn, is called the response
spectrum for that quantity.
Response is the structural system reaction to a demand coming
from ground acceleration record (i.e. Accelerogram) and when the
peak response commodities such as structural system displacement
( ,u o ) velocity ( u o ) and acceleration ( u o ) are plotted against the
t

structural system natural time period (or frequencies) will be called

spectrum
 Response spectrum concept

Peak values of response quantities and shape of response

spectrum depends on the accelerogram
Each such plot is for SDOF system having a fixed damping ratio
ζ, and several such plots for different values of ζ are included to
cover the range of damping values encountered in actual structures.
The deformation response spectrum is a plot of uo against Tn for
fixed ζ. A similar plot for u o is the relative velocity response
t
u

spectrum, and for o is the total acceleration response spectrum.
Deformation response spectrum

Figure on next slide shows the procedure to determine the

deformation response spectrum. The spectrum is developed for
El Centro ground motions, as shown in part (a) of the figure.
The time variation of deformation induced by this ground motion
in three SDF systems is presented in part (b) of the figure
The peak value of deformation D ≡ uo, determined for SDF
system with different Tn is determined and shown in part (c) of the
Figure
 Construction of deformation
response spectrum

(a) El-centro ground acceleration; (b) Deformation response of three SDF systems
with ζ=2% and TCE-409:
n=0.5,1, and 2 sec; (c)
MODULE Deformation response spectrum for ζ=2%29
6 (Fall-2013) 29
Pseudo-velocity response spectrum

Consider a quantity V for an SDF system with natural frequency ωn

related to its peak deformation D ≡ uo due to earthquake ground
motion:
2π
ω D =V = D
T
n
n

The quantity V has the unit of velocity and is called relative

pseudo- velocity or simply pseudo-velocity. The prefix pseudo is
u o
used because V is not equal to the peak velocity , although it
has the correct units.
Pseudo-velocity response spectrum

D 2π
V =D
T n
ζ = 2%
Tn D V=D*2π/Tn

0.5 2.67 33.6

V 1.0 5.97 37.5

2.0 7.47 23.5

ζ = 2%
Pseudo-acceleration response spectrum

D
2
2  2π 
A = ω n D =   D
ζ = 2%  Tn 

Tn D A=D*(2π/Tn)2
A 2.6
0.5 7 1.09g
ζ = 2%
5.9
1.0 7 0.61g
7.4
2.0 7 0.191g
A caution about Pseudo responses

Please note the following comments regarding pseudo commodities:

1. uo is same as D by definition.

2. Whereas u o is not taken as V, which by definition = ωnD

t
u

3. Similarly, o is not taken as A which by definition= ωn2D
 Displacement Response Spectra for Different Damping
values
The higher the damping, the lower the relative displacement.
At a period of 2 sec, for example, going from zero to 5%
damping reduces the displacement amplitude by a factor of two.
While higher damping produces further decreases in displacement,
there is a diminishing return.
The % reduction in
displacement by going
from 5 to 20% damping is
much less that that for 0 to
5% damping.

Deformation response spectra f0r 1940 El-centro earthquake for different values of ζ
 Pseudo Acceleration Response Spectra for Different
Damping Values
Damping has a similar effect on pseudo acceleration. Note,
however, that the pseudo acceleration at a (near) zero period is the
same for all damping values.

This value is always

equal to the peak ground
acceleration, 0.319g, for
the ground motion in
question. i.e. El-centro
1940 earthquake

Deformation response spectra f0r 1940 El-centro earthquake for different values of ζ
Pseudo acceleration (A) Vs peak total acceleration u o ( ) t

The term Pseudo shall not be conceived by its meaning (i.e. false as
defined in English dictionaries). In fact it shall be taken as “an essence
similar effect to their relevant commodities ”
It can be observed from below graph that pseudo acceleration , A , and
peak value of true acceleration, u o t have almost same values for systems
with Tn≤ 10 sec and ζ ≤ 0.1 .
It is worth mentioning that for elastic system the ζ seldomly exceed 5%
t
u

as such taking A same as o negligible effect

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013)

Tn- sec
Pseudo velocity (V) Vs peak system’s velocity ( u o )
As shown in below graph that V ≈ u o for medium rise buildings
(0.2≤ Tn ≤ 1 sec) as long as ζ ≤ 0.1 . Similarly V ≈ 0.85u o
(0.2≤ Tn ≤ 3 sec) for ζ ≤ 0.1

V≈
V u o
≈u o

V ≈ 0.85u o

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013)

Combined D-V-A spectrum

The deformation, pseudo-velocity and pseduo-acceleration

spectra are plotted for a wide and practical range of Tn and for a
particular value of ζ .
The above mentioned procedure is repeated for different values
of ζ.
The results for different values of ζ over a wide range of Tn are
combined in a single diagram, called combined D-V-A diagram,
as shown on next slide
 Use of D-V-A spectrum
Refer to slides 29, 31 and 32 for D,V and A, respectively

Figure: Combined D-V-A response spectrum for El Centro ground motion; ζ = 2%.
39
Note the values ofCE-409:
D,V andMODULE 6 (Fall-2013)
A determined for a SDOF system with T n=2 sec 39
 Combined D-V-A spectrum
For a given earthquake, small variations in structural frequency
(period) can produce significantly different results (See V value
for Tn = 0.5 to3 sec for El-centro earthquake)

Combined D-V-ACE-409:
response spectrum
MODULE Centro ground motion; ζ = 0,5,10 and 20%40 40
for6El(Fall-2013)
Relation between peak Equivalent static force, fso , and
Pseudo acceleration, A
f so = k.u o
since k = ω n 2 .m
⇒ f so = k.u o = (ω n .m).u o
2

= m.(ω n .u o )
2

⇒ f so = m.A
 Peak Structural Response from the response spectrum

As already discussed on previous slide, peak value of the equivalent

static force fso can be determined as:
f so = kD = mA
The peak value of base shear, Vbo, from equilibrium of above given
diagram can be written as:
Vbo = f so = m.A
Peak Structural Response from the response
spectrum
w A
or Vbo = .A = .w
g g

Where w is the weight of the structure and g is the gravitational

acceleration. When written in this form, A/g may be interpreted as
the base shear coefficient or lateral force coefficient . It is used in
building codes to represent the coefficient by which the structural
weight is multiplied to obtain the base shear
Problem M6.1
The frame for use in a building is to be located on sloping ground s
shown in figure. The cross sections of the two columns are 10 in. square.
Determine the base shears in the two columns at the instant of peak
response due to the El Centro ground motion. Assume the damping ratio
to be 5%. The beam is too stiffer than the columns and can be assumed
to be rigid. Total weight at floor level = 10k
Solution
 Solution (contd….) uo is decreasing with increase in Tn

Computing the shear force at the

base of the short and long columns.

u o = D = 0.67′′ ⇒ A = ( 2π/Tn ) D
2

⇒ A = ( 2π/0.3) (0.67 / 12)

2

= 24.51 ft/sec 2 = 0.76g

0.67″

5% Damped Elastic Displacement Response

Spectrum for El Centro Ground Motion
Comments:
Although both columns go through equal deformation, however, the stiffer column
carries a greater force than the flexible column. The lateral force is distributed to the
elements in proportion to their relative stiffnesses. Sometimes this basic principle , if
not recognized in building design, lead to unanticipated damage of the stiffer elements.
Response Spectrum normalized with peak ground parameters
thereby giving the amplification magnitudes for D,V and A e.g., for a
system with Tn = 0.5 sec and ζ =0.05. The amplification factors for
D,V and A are αD ≈0.2 , αV ≈1.9and αA≈2.3, respectively

Velocity amplification
factor

D= ugo for
Tn>15 sec

Acceleration amplification u= -ug

factor
Displacement
amplification factor
A ≈ u go

u= 0
Very flexible systems
Very rigid systems
 Spectral regions in Response Spectrum
A
≈ const. for Tn < Tc
u go
or A = const. * u go (for Tn < Tc )

i.e. A directly varies with

PGA. Therefore region from
Tn = 0 to Tc is defined
Acceleration sensitive region.
Same logic apply in
defining velocity sensitive and
displacement sensitive regions
 Design Spectrum
Response spectrum cannot be used for the design of new
structures, or the seismic safety evaluation of existing structures due
to the following reasons:
Response spectrum for a ground motion recorded during the past
is inappropriate for future design or evaluation.
The response spectrum is not smooth and jagged, specially for
lightly damped structures.
The response spectrum for different ground motions recorded in
the past at the same site are not only jagged but the peaks and valley
are not necessarily at the same periods. This can be seen from the
figure given on next slide where the response spectra for ground
motions recorded at the same site during past three earthquakes are
plotted
Figure: Response spectra for the N-S component of ground motions recorded at the
imperial valley Irrigation district substation, El Centro, California, during earthquakes
of May 18,1949;Feb 9,1956;and
CE-409: MODULE April68,1968; ζ = 2%.
(Fall-2013) 49
49
 Design Spectrum

Due to the inappropriateness of response spectrum as stated on

previous slide, the majority of earthquake design spectra are
obtained by averaging a set of response spectra for ground motion
recorded at the site the past earthquakes.

If nothing have been recoded at the site, the design spectrum

should be based on ground motions recorded at other sites under
similar conditions such as magnitude of the earthquake, the
distance of the site from causative fault, the fault mechanism, the
geology of the travel path of seismic waves from the source to the
site, and the local soil conditions at the site.
 Design Spectrum

For practical applications, design spectra are presented as

smooth curves or straight lines.
Smoothing is carried , using statistical analysis, out to eliminate
the peaks and valleys in the response spectra that are not desirable
for design. For this purpose statistical analysis of response spectra is
carried out for the ensemble of ground motions.
Each ground motion, for statistical analysis is normalized (scaled
up or down) so that all ground motions have the same peak ground
acceleration, say u go ;other basis for normalization can be chosen.
 Construction of Design Spectrum
Researchers have developed
procedures to construct such design
spectra from ground motion
parameters. One such procedure is
illustrated in given figure.
The recommended period values
Ta = 1/33 sec, Tb = 1/8 sec, Te = 10
sec, and Tf = 33 sec, and the
amplification factors αA, αV , and αD
for the three spectral regions (given
table on next slide), were developed
by the statistical analysis of a larger
ensemble of ground motions
recorded on firm ground (rock, soft
rock, and competent sediments).
Amplification factors for construction of Design
Spectrum
 Construction of Design Spectrum (firm soil)

α v = 2.3
Using the values on α D = 2.01
α A = 2.71
previous slide and values
given in table 6.9.2 (slide
53) for 84.1 percentile
and ζ =5%, the Pseudo-
velocity design spectrum
can be dawn as shown in
Figure 6.9.4

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013) 55

Construction of Design Spectrum (firm soil)

Displacement and Pseudo-acceleration design spectra can be drawn

from pseudo-velocity design spectrum using the relations being
already discussed and reproduced here for the convenience:
V Tn
D= = V
ωn 2π
2π
A = Vω n = V.
Tn
The Pseudo-acceleration and displacement design spectra drawn by
using above given equation are drawn in Figures 6.9.5 and 6.9.6 on
next two slides
 Construction of Design Spectrum (firm soil)
Acceleration sensitive region

Velocity sensitive region

Displacement
sensitive region

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013) 57

Construction of Design Spectrum (firm soil)

CE-409: MODULE 6 (Fall-2013) 58

 Design Spectrum for various values of ζ

Pseudo- velocity design spectrum for ground motions with

u go = 1g , u go = 48 in/sec,
CE-409: and u go
MODULE = 36 in.
6 (Fall-2013) 59
 Design Spectrum for
various values of ζ

Pseudo- acceleration design spectrum (84.1 th percentile) drawn on log scale for ground
= 1g , u goMODULE
motions with u goCE-409: = 48 in/sec, and u go = 36 in. ; ζ = 1,2,5,10 and 20 %.
6 (Fall-2013) 60
60
 Design Spectrum for various values of ζ

Figure: Pseudo- acceleration design spectrum (84.1 th percentile) drawn on linear

scale for ground motions with u go = 1g , u
 go = 48 in/sec, and u go = 36 in. ;
ζ = 1,2,5,10 and CE-409:
20 %. MODULE 6 (Fall-2013) 61
61
 Envelope Design spectrum
For some sites a design spectrum is the envelope of two different
elastic design spectra as shown below

Nearby fault producing

moderate EQ

Site

Far away fault

producing largeCE-409:
EQ MODULE 6 (Fall-2013) 62
Problem M6.2
(a) A full water tank is supported on an 80-ft-high cantilever tower. It is
idealized as an SDF system with weight w = 100 kips, lateral stiffness k =
4 kips/in., and damping ratio ζ = 5%. The tower supporting the tank is to
be designed for ground motion characterized by the design spectrum of
Fig. 6.9.5 scaled to 0.5g peak ground acceleration. Determine the design
values of lateral deformation and base shear.
(b) The deformation computed for the system in part (a) seemed excessive
to the structural designer, who decided to stiffen the tower by increasing
its size. Determine the design values of deformation and base shear for the
modified system if its lateral stiffness is 8 kips/in.; assume that the
damping ratio is still 5%. Comment on how stiffening the system has
affected the design requirements. What is the disadvantage of stiffening
the system?
For each case evaluate, Tn and use response spectra to read response quantities

Comparing the response of systems (a) and (b), we observe that stiffening the
tower shortens the natural period and reduces the design deformation, but
increases the base shear; the latter is a disadvantage.

Comparing systems (a) and (c), both have the same natural period and spectral
ordinates. However, system (c) has twice the mass of system (a), which doubles
the base shear.