Analysis and capacity based earthquake resistant design of multi bay multi storeyed 3D-RC frame

Abstract

Earthquakes in different parts of the world demonstrated the disastrous consequences and vulnerability of inadequate structures. Many reinforced concrete (RC) framed structures located in zones of high seismicity in India are constructed without considering the seismic codal provisions. The vulnerability of inadequately designed structures represents seismic risk to occupants.The main cause of failure of multi-storey multi-bay reinforced concrete frames during seismic motion is the soft storey sway mechanism or column sway mechanism. The seismic inertia forces generated at its floor levels are transferred through the various beams and columns to the ground. The failure of a column can affect the stability of the whole building, but the failure of a beam causes localized effect. Therefore, it is better to make beams to be the ductile weak links than columns. This method of designing RC buildings is called the strong-column weak-beam design method.