NUST institute of Civil Engineering (NICE)

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE)

National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)

UG CE 2017 Code/Course: CE-416

Semester: Spring 2020 Course Title: Earthquake Engineering (Elective)

COMPLEX ENGINEERING PROBLEM

Suppose as a practicing structural engineer, you are asked to perform the seismic analysis and design
of a 8-story commercial plaza building located in Islamabad.

5 spans @ 8m each
3 spans @ 8m each

Y
X
Plan view of the case study building

The building is entirely made of reinforced

concrete with RC moment-resisting frame
as the primary lateral load-resisting system.
The building has a rectangular plan (same
throughout 8 stories) with no horizontal and
vertical irregularity. The plan view and
elevation of the building are shown in the
figure.
The dimensions of all RC columns is
500×500 mm while all RC beams are
375×500 mm. The thickness of all RC
slabs is 250 mm.
Isometeric 3D view of the case study building
For the purpose of dynamic analysis, a simplified model
of this building is prepared. It is assumed to behave as
an Idealized shear building. Suppose you are only
interested in the seismic response of this building in its
longer (X) direction. The simplified model of this building
for the dynamic analysis in X direction can be described
as an 8-story 2D frame with lumped mass and lumped
stiffness for each story, as shown in the Figure.

The base is assumed to have a fix support (all degrees

of freedom are restrained).

Question 1: Formulate the Lumped Mass Matrix of

this building?

Question 2: Formulate the Lumped Stiffness Matrix

of this building?

Question 3: Solve the Eigen-value problem and

determine the first four natural periods and first four
mode shapes (in X direction) of this building. Plot
the mode shapes.
Simplified model of the case study building

Now you are asked to perform the seismic analysis and design of this building according to ASCE 7-
16. The building is expected to experience the following loadings cases during its intended life (i.e. the
following design loads should be considered).

1) Dead Load (D) = Building self-weight

2) Live Load (L) = 5 KN/m2 (Note: This is area load for floors)
3) Seismic Loading: 𝑆𝑠 = 0.75𝑔, 𝑆1 = 0.5𝑔, Site class D.

Question 4: Using the Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure (ASCE 7-16), determine the
equivalent earthquake forces for each story of this case study building. Assume missing data,
if any.

Question 5: Draw the “story shear force diagram” and “story bending moment diagram” of this
case study building due to seismic loads (equivalent earthquake forces).
Question 6: Perform the RC design of beams and columns for one (middle) frame of the
building in X direction. The selected frame is shown below.

5 spans @ 8m each

3 spans @ 8m each

Selected frame for RC structural design

Y
X

Selected middle frame for performing RC design of beams and columns

Notes:

1) You have to perform the static structural analysis of this frame under the applied three loading
cases. You will need a structural analysis software for this purpose.
Use the following load combination for the purpose of structural design.
Load Combination: 1.2D+L+EQ
a) D = Dead Load = Part of self-weight of the building taken by this middle frame (use
tributary areas)
 b) L = Live Load = Part of live load on the building taken by this middle frame (use
tributary areas)
c) EQ = Seismic Loads = 1/4 of the total equivalent earthquake forces determined from
the ELF procedure (because the total seismic loading will be resisted by 4 frames in X
direction).

2) Draw the shear force diagram and story bending moment diagrams of this selected frame for
the given load combination (i.e. due to a combined loading of 1.2Dead, Live and Seismic
Loads). Seismic loads will be 1/4 of the total equivalent earthquake forces determined from the
ELF procedure. You will need a structural analysis software for this purpose.

3) Use this SFD and BMD of selected frame to perform the final design of RC beams and
columns. Determine the reinforcement in all members. Are the initial cross-sectional
dimensions adequate for these loadings?
Determine the longitudinal and shear reinforcement in all beams and columns. If the cross-
sections of beams and columns need revision, determine the revised sections.

INSTRUCTOR (S)

Dr. Fawad Ahmed Najam

Assistant Professor (Structural Engineering)
NUST Institute of Civil Engineering (NICE)
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE)
National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
H-12 Islamabad, Pakistan
Cell: 92-334-5192533, Email: fawad@nice.nust.edu.pk
Office No: 118, 1st Floor, NIT Building, SCEE, NUST