This study synthesizes findings from various research on the seismic analysis of multi-story buildings. It highlights the crucial role of software tools like ETABS and STAAD-Pro in conducting static and dynamic analyses across different seismic zones and soil conditions. A key finding across multiple studies is the significant improvement in seismic performance achieved through the incorporation of shear walls, which effectively reduce storey drift and enhance base shear resistance in both regular and irregular building configurations. The analysis also underscores the vulnerability of irregular building plans to increased deformation and torsional effects during seismic events, advocating for symmetrical designs in high-risk zones. Furthermore, the importance of employing dynamic analysis methods, such as response spectrum and time history analysis, is emphasized for a comprehensive understanding of structural behavior under seismic loads. The influence of building height on seismic response parameters is also noted. Finally, the necessity of adhering to relevant seismic design codes from India (IS) and Bangladesh (BNBC) is highlighted to ensure the safety and stability of multi-story structures in earthquake-prone regions.
Introduction
Urbanization and population growth have significantly increased the demand for vertical construction (multi-story buildings). These structures are crucial for maximizing land use and accommodating residential, commercial, and mixed-use spaces in dense urban areas.
A. Key Aspects of Multi-Story Building Design
Structural Integrity: Ensures buildings can handle dead loads, live loads, and environmental loads like wind and seismic forces.
Safety: Especially critical in seismic zones, incorporating shear walls, bracings, and reinforced concrete systems.
Functionality: Involves efficient layouts, optimal placement of structural elements, and maximizing usable space.
B. Seismic Considerations
Challenges: Earthquakes exert dynamic forces that can damage or collapse buildings.
Solutions:
Ductility: Allows the building to absorb energy.
Base Isolation & Dampers: Reduces seismic impact.
Load Path Continuity: Ensures smooth transfer of seismic forces from top to foundation.
C. Role of Software in Design
Structural analysis software like ETABS, STAAD-Pro, and SAP2000 is essential for:
Modeling complex geometries
Performing dynamic seismic analysis
Optimizing material use
Automating calculations and report generation
D. Importance of Earthquake-Resistant Design
Given the destructive nature of earthquakes, designing for seismic resistance is essential to protect life, infrastructure, and minimize economic loss, especially in high-risk zones.
II. Literature Review
Various researchers have analyzed the seismic performance of multi-story buildings under different conditions using structural software. Key findings include:
Mahesh & Rao (2014): Assessed G+11 buildings under different seismic zones and soil types using ETABS and STAAD-Pro; analyzed story drift, base shear, etc.
Kumar et al. (2014): Compared Ordinary vs. Special Moment Resisting Frames using static and response spectrum analysis for a G+15 structure.
Ahamad & Pratap (2021): Showed that symmetric placement of shear walls significantly improves seismic performance.
Sharma & Maru (2014): Studied G+30 RC buildings in Zones II and III using STAAD-Pro.
Rathod & Chandrashekar (2017): Found that symmetric structures perform better than asymmetric ones due to reduced displacement and deformation.
Haque et al. (2016): Analyzed different building shapes (W, L, Rectangle, Square) under Bangladesh seismic codes; noted shape affects displacement and seismic response.
Sarath et al. (2022): Used STAAD-Pro for comparative design and analysis to achieve economical high-rise structures.
Kalsait & Varghese (2015): Analyzed G+15 buildings on varying slope grounds, emphasizing ductile design per Indian codes.
Giberson (1967): Conducted detailed dynamic analysis of nonlinear 20-story structures, emphasizing importance of higher modes and ductility.
Gottala et al. (2015): Compared static and dynamic analysis results for G+9 buildings, showing discrepancies in structural responses.
Farqaleet (2016): Focused on dynamic analysis of symmetrical 10-story RCC buildings using time history and response spectrum methods.
Atif et al. (2015): Compared performance of G+19 buildings with shear walls vs. bracing across seismic zones II–V; bracing and wall placement significantly affected stability.
Conclusion
Studies emphasize the importance of seismic analysis for multi-story buildings, highlighting the use of software like ETABS and STAAD-Pro for static and dynamic analysis across different seismic zones and soil types. Shear walls are consistently shown to significantly improve seismic performance by reducing storey drift and increasing base shear resistance in irregular and regular buildings. Irregular building configurations tend to exhibit greater deformation and torsional irregularity compared to regular, symmetrical plans, suggesting symmetrical designs are preferable in high seismic zones. Dynamic analysis methods like response spectrum and time history analysis are crucial for understanding the structural response to earthquake forces and are often compared with equivalent static analysis. Building height and number of storeys influence seismic parameters like storey shear and displacement, with taller buildings potentially experiencing larger deformations. Design considerations based on Indian (IS) and Bangladesh (BNBC) seismic codes are essential for ensuring the safety and stability of structures in earthquake-prone regions.
References
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