Seismic Analysis and Performance Assessment of Earthquake-Resistant Buildings

Abstract

The seismic analysis and performance assessment of earthquake-resistant buildings, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of how structures behave under seismic forces and how their safety and resilience can be enhanced. The study involves detailed architectural planning, accurate structural modelling, precise load assignment, and seismic enhancement techniques, all implemented using advanced software tools such as AutoCAD for drafting, ETABS for analysis and Microsoft Excel was used for data tabulation and graph preparation. Various earthquake-resistant strategies, including shear walls and bracing are applied and their effects on structural performance are thoroughly evaluated. Key response parameters such as base shear, story displacement, story drift are measured, and comparative analysis is performed to assess the effectiveness of different mitigation approaches. The project provides a systematic, practical, and professional framework for designing, analysing, and assessing buildings to ensure safety, structural integrity, and optimal performance under seismic conditions.

Introduction

Earthquakes are a major natural hazard affecting buildings and infrastructure by generating lateral forces that cause displacement, storey drift, shear, and bending in structural members. Proper seismic design is essential to prevent structural damage or collapse. In India, seismic design follows IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016, guiding engineers in evaluating building responses under earthquake loads.

This project involves modeling and analyzing an 8-storey reinforced concrete (RCC) residential building using AutoCAD for architectural drawings, ETABS for structural analysis, and Microsoft Excel for data tabulation and graphing. Key parameters studied include base shear, storey displacement, storey drift, time period, and member forces. Different structural systems—normal RCC frame, shear wall, braced frame, and base isolation—are compared to assess their seismic performance and identify the most effective earthquake-resistant technique.

The methodology includes site selection (Nallepilly, Kerala, Seismic Zone III), architectural planning ensuring symmetry and proper layout, structural modeling in ETABS with accurate material and section properties, and load assignment for dead, live, and earthquake loads as per IS codes. Seismic enhancement techniques like shear walls, bracing systems, and base isolation are incorporated to improve lateral stability and reduce structural deformation.

The project aims to improve understanding of multi-storey building behavior under seismic forces, optimize earthquake-resistant design, and enhance structural safety using RCC and structural steel.

Conclusion

The project was carried out starting from architectural planning using AUTOCAD and structural modeling of an 8-storey reinforced concrete building. The structural model was developed based on the architectural plan and analyzed using ETABS. The study was conducted for the site located at Palakkad, Chittur – Nallepilly, which falls under seismic zone III. Structural analysis was performed by considering dead load, live load, and seismic load to evaluate the structural behavior under different loading conditions. Response spectrum analysis was carried out as per the provisions of IS 1893 Part 1 for seismic evaluation. Different structural configurations such as normal frame, bracing system and shear wall system were modeled and analyzed for performance comparison. Results of the analysis showed that the normal frame structure exhibited higher storey drift and displacement, indicating lower seismic resistance. The bracing system improved lateral stability by reducing displacement, while the shear wall system provided superior seismic performance by significantly controlling drift and enhancing structural stiffness. Based on the comparative analysis, it is concluded that the shear wall system is the most effective seismic enhancement technique for the selected site and building configuration. The implementation of earthquake-resistant design techniques improves structural safety and reduces the risk of seismic damage, ensuring better performance under earthquake loading conditions. Thus, the project successfully achieved its objectives of seismic performance evaluation and comparison of different structural systems. The study highlights the importance of earthquake-resistant structural design and demonstrates the effectiveness of seismic enhancement techniques in improving the safety and stability of buildings in seismic regions.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Kesavaraj M, Devapriya P, Muhammed Sidan E V, Mohammed Naseen, Assistant Prof. Fathima Rinsi. 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.