Structural member stiffness influence on vertical earthquake behaviour of mid-rise R/C frame buildings in Turkey

Abstract

This study is aimed at identifying structural element stiffness influence on vertical earthquake response of mid-rise R/C frame buildings. To this aim, a mid-rise RC building structure is designed as per the new Turkish Seismic Code for Buildings-2018, and 3D FE model of the building is established. Based on the established FE model, a total number of six buildings are considered depending on certain percentage increase in beam, slab, and column. The time-history response analyses (THA) are performed separately for only horizontal (H) and horizontal +vertical (H+V) earthquake motions to make a comparison between the load cases. The analysis results are presented comparatively in terms of the monitoring parameters of the base overturning moment (Mo), the top-story lateral displacement (dL) and the top-story vertical displacement (dV). The obtained results reveal that the base overturning moment and the top-story vertical displacement are affected by vertical earthquake motion regardless of the increase in the dimension of beam, slab, and column. However, vertical earthquake motion is not effective on the top-story lateral displacement due to no change between H and H+V load. The dimensional increase in either slab or beam leads to a considerable increase in the base overturning moment and the top-story vertical displacement while causing decrease in the top-story lateral displacement. In addition, the dimensional increase in column has a positive effect on the decrease in the monitoring parameters of the base overturning moment (Mo), the top-story lateral displacement (dL) and the top-story vertical displacement (dV).