Effects of seismic zones and local soil conditions on response of RC buildings

Abstract

The effect of seismic zones and local soil conditions given in Turkish Seismic Code on the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete buildings, evaluated using the distributed plastic hinge approach, is investigated in this paper. A RC frame building was selected for numerical analysis, and the nonlinear dynamic time history analyses were performed. For the purposes of analyses, selected earthquake records were adjusted to become compatible with the design response spectrum, taking into account seismic zones and local soil conditions. Interstorey drifts, cross-sectional forces at the base of the building, and energy dissipation for selected hinges, were compared in the paper.