Seismic Performance Evaluation of a Building Incorporating Different Lateral Load Resisting Systems

Abstract

Earthquakes produce significant lateral forces on structures, which may lead to excessive displacement, structural instability, and collapse if proper seismic resistant measures are not adopted. The present study focuses on the comparative seismic performance evaluation of a G+11 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) building incorporated with different vibration control system using ETABS 20. The building was analyzed for Seismic Zone V using the Response Spectrum Analysis (RSA) method in accordance with the provisions of IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016. Six structural models were considered in the study, namely bare frame structure, fluid viscous damper model, friction damper model, X-bracing model, shear wall model, and lead rubber bearing (LRB) base isolated model. The seismic performance of each model was evaluated based on parameters such as maximum storey displacement, storey drift and storey shear. The results obtained from the analysis indicate that the Shear Wall model provides the most effective reduction in displacement and drift due to its Enhanced stiffness, although the shear wall and bracing systems significantly improve structural stiffness but attract higher seismic forces hence greater base shear than bare frame model. The fluid viscous damper and friction damper showed overall good seismic performance by reducing the overall displacement, drift and storey shear without attracting higher seismic forces. The base isolated model increases the displacement due to increased flexibility in the structure but reduces drift and force transmission into the structure. The study concludes that vibration control systems considerably enhance the seismic performance of RCC structures and assist in improving structural safety in earthquake-prone regions.

Introduction

This study evaluates the seismic performance of a G+11 Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) building using different vibration control systems under earthquake loading. Earthquakes generate significant lateral forces that can cause excessive displacement, structural damage, or collapse if buildings are not designed with adequate seismic resistance. To improve earthquake performance, modern structural engineering employs systems such as fluid viscous dampers, friction dampers, X-bracing, shear walls, and base isolation.

The research uses Response Spectrum Analysis in ETABS 20 according to IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016 to compare six structural models:

1. Bare frame
2. Fluid Viscous Damper (FVD)
3. Friction Damper
4. X-Bracing
5. Shear Wall
6. Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) Base Isolation

The models are evaluated based on maximum storey displacement, storey drift, and storey shear to determine the most effective seismic protection system.

Objectives

The study aims to:

• Model and analyse a G+11 RCC building in Seismic Zone V.
• Perform Response Spectrum Analysis using ETABS.
• Evaluate the seismic behaviour of different vibration control systems.
• Compare structural performance using displacement, drift, and storey shear.
• Identify the most efficient system for improving seismic safety.

Literature Review

Previous research shows that:

• Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVDs) effectively dissipate earthquake energy, reducing displacement, drift, and seismic forces.
• Friction Dampers improve energy dissipation and structural safety while reducing displacement and drift.
• X-Bracing significantly increases structural stiffness and reduces lateral movement.
• Shear Walls improve stability and reduce storey drift, particularly in irregular buildings.
• Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) Base Isolation reduces seismic forces and base shear by increasing structural flexibility, although it may increase overall displacement.
• Recent studies suggest that hybrid systems, combining dampers with base isolation or shear walls, often provide the best seismic performance.

Methodology

A regular, symmetrical G+11 RCC building located in Seismic Zone V on soft soil (Site Type III) was modelled in ETABS 20.

Key features include:

• Response Spectrum Analysis using RSX and RSY load cases.
• Dynamic base shear scaled according to IS 1893.
• Modal responses combined using the Complete Quadratic Combination (CQC) method.
• Identical geometry, loading, and material properties maintained across all models to ensure fair comparison.

The six structural models differ only in the vibration control system employed.

Structural Modelling

The building specifications include:

• 12 storeys (G+11)
• 4 × 4 grid layout with 4.5 m spacing
• Storey height: 2.7 m
• Beam size: 400 × 400 mm
• Column size: 600 × 600 mm
• Slab thickness: 150 mm
• 5% damping ratio
• Fixed supports (except for the LRB base-isolated model)

Conclusion

The present study focused on the comparative seismic performance evaluation of a G+11 reinforced cement concrete (RCC) building using different vibration control devices or system in ETABS 20. Response Spectrum Analysis (RSA) method was carried out for Seismic Zone V in accordance with the provisions of IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016 and other relevant codes. Six different structural models consisting of bare frame structure, fluid viscous dampers, friction dampers, X bracing system, shear wall system, and lead rubber bearing (LRB) base isolation system were analyzed and compared. From the analysis results, it was observed that the bare frame structure exhibited the maximum displacement and drift due to the absence of any seismic control mechanisms. The fluid viscous damper model showed the best overall seismic performance by significantly reducing storey displacement, storey drift, and structural vibration through efficient energy dissipation. The friction damper model also improved the structural response by dissipating seismic energy through frictional resistance. The X-bracing and shear wall systems enhanced the stiffness of the structure and effectively controlled lateral deformation. Among these, the shear wall model showed most reduction in displacement and drift due to its high lateral load-resisting capacity. However, the increased stiffness resulted in comparatively higher storey shear and force demand. The base isolated model behaved differently from other systems by increasing the flexibility and fundamental time period of the structure. The Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) isolators effectively reduced the transmission of seismic forces to the superstructure and lowered the storey shear values, thereby improving seismic safety. Overall, the study concludes that vibration control mechanisms significantly improve the seismic performance of RCC buildings. Among all the considered systems, fluid viscous dampers were found to be the most effective in achieving balanced seismic performance by reducing both deformation and force demand. The findings of the study can be useful for selecting suitable seismic control systems for multi storey buildings located in earthquake prone regions.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Utkarsh Kumar Mishra, Rakesh Kumar Grover. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.