Horizontal only and horizontal-vertical combined earthquake effects on three R/C frame building structures through linear time-history analysis (LTHA): An implementation to Turkey

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the vertical seismic performance of reinforced concrete (R/C) frame buildings in two different building stocks, one of which consists of those designed as per the previous Turkish Seismic Code (TSC-2007) that does not consider the vertical earthquake load, and the other of which consists of those designed as per the new Turkish Seismic Code (TSCB-2018) that considers the vertical earthquake load. For this aim, three R/C buildings with heights of 15 m, 24 m and 33 m are designed separately as per TSC-2007 and TSCB-2018 based on some limitations in terms of seismic zone, soil class and structural behavior factor (R-x/R-y) etc. The vertical earthquake motion effects are identified according to the linear time-history analyses (LTHA) that are performed separately for only horizontal (H) and combined horizontal+vertical (H+V) earthquake motions. LTHA is performed to predict how vertical earthquake motion affects the response of the designed buildings by comparing the linear response parameters of the base shear force, the base overturning, the base axial force, topstory vertical displacement. Nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA) is generally required for energy dissipative buildings, not required for design of buildings. In this study, the earthquake records are scaled to force the buildings in the linear range. Since nonlinear behavior is not expected from the buildings herein, the nonlinear time-history analysis (NLTHA) is not considered. Eleven earthquake acceleration records are considered by scaling them to the design spectrum given in TSCB-2018. The base shear force is obtained not to be affected from the combined H+V earthquake load for the buildings. The base overturning moment outcomes underline that the rigidity of the frame system in terms of the dimensions of the columns can be a critical parameter for the influence of the vertical earthquake motion on the buildings. In addition, the building stock from TSC-2007 is estimated to show better vertical earthquake performance than that of TSCB-2018. The vertical earthquake motion is found out to be highly effective on the base axial force of 33 m building rather than 15 m and 24 m buildings. Thus, the building height is a particularly important parameter for the base axial force. The percentage changes in the top-story vertical displacement of the buildings designed for both codes show an increase parallel to that in the base axial force results. To extrapolate more general results, it is clear to state that many buildings should be analyzed.