How can you improve the seismic performance of your structure?

1 Material selection

One of the first steps to improve seismic performance is to choose the right materials for your structure. Different materials have different properties, such as strength, ductility, stiffness, and weight, that affect how they behave under seismic loads. For example, steel and reinforced concrete are commonly used materials for seismic-resistant structures, because they have high strength and ductility, meaning they can withstand large deformations without breaking. On the other hand, brittle materials, such as masonry and unreinforced concrete, are more prone to cracking and failure under seismic loads. Therefore, you should select materials that are compatible with your structural system, design criteria, and site conditions.

2 Structural system

Another important factor to improve seismic performance is the structural system, which is the arrangement of elements that support and transfer the loads in your structure. The structural system should be designed to provide adequate lateral resistance, stiffness, and stability to your structure, as well as to dissipate the seismic energy and reduce the demand on the individual elements. Some of the common structural systems for seismic-resistant structures are moment-resisting frames, shear walls, braced frames, and base isolation. Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the type, size, shape, and function of your structure. Therefore, you should choose a structural system that suits your design objectives, budget, and site constraints.

3 Structural detailing

Structural detailing is the process of specifying the dimensions, connections, reinforcement, and fabrication of the structural elements in your structure. Structural detailing can have a significant impact on the seismic performance of your structure, as it affects the strength, ductility, and energy dissipation of the elements and joints. For example, proper detailing can prevent brittle failure modes, such as shear failure, buckling, or bond failure, that can compromise the integrity of your structure. Some of the best practices for structural detailing for seismic performance are to use continuous reinforcement, avoid sharp corners, provide adequate anchorage and splices, and use ductile connections and joints.

4 Non-structural components

Non-structural components are the parts of your structure that are not directly involved in supporting and transferring the loads, such as walls, partitions, ceilings, cladding, windows, doors, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. Non-structural components can also affect the seismic performance of your structure, as they can add weight, stiffness, and damping to your structure, as well as pose potential hazards to the occupants and equipment in case of failure. Therefore, you should consider the interaction between the non-structural components and the structural system, and design them to accommodate the expected seismic movements and forces. Some of the methods to improve the seismic performance of non-structural components are to use flexible connections, isolation devices, bracing, and anchoring.

5 Site characteristics

Site characteristics are the features of the location where your structure is built, such as the soil type, topography, groundwater level, and proximity to fault lines. Site characteristics can influence the seismic performance of your structure, as they affect the intensity, duration, and frequency of the ground shaking, as well as the potential for soil liquefaction, landslides, and fault rupture. Therefore, you should conduct a thorough site investigation and analysis, and select a suitable foundation type and depth for your structure. Some of the techniques to improve the seismic performance of your structure on a given site are to use pile foundations, ground improvement methods, slope stabilization, and fault avoidance.

6 Performance-based design

Performance-based design is a design approach that aims to achieve a desired level of performance for your structure under various seismic scenarios, rather than meeting prescriptive code requirements. Performance-based design allows you to consider the uncertainties and variability of the seismic hazard, the structural response, and the damage consequences, and to optimize your design accordingly. Performance-based design can help you improve the seismic performance of your structure, as it enables you to evaluate the trade-offs between different design options, and to select the most cost-effective and resilient solution for your structure. Some of the tools and methods for performance-based design are probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, nonlinear dynamic analysis, fragility curves, and performance objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?