STRUCTURAL IRREGULARITIES AND SOLUTION SUGGESTIONS

Tuba NAN
IZMIR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

Earthquakes
Turkey, with more than 90% of its land being in highly seismic regions, is an earthquake prone country and has been struck by many devastating earthquakes throughout history. Therefore, it is too significant to design earthquake resistant buildings in order to defend the structures against significant earthquake loads.

 Turkey is located on Anatolian Peninsula on the Alp Himalayan earthquake belt that is seismically active region in the world. As a result of this, a great deal of destructive earthquakes has happened in Turkey.

Seismic map of Turkey

Earthquake directions

Earthquake Resistant Design

Earthquake Resistant Building Design depends on:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Architectural Design Structural Configuration Seismic Zone Soil Type Proper Construction Proper Detailing Building Inspection

ERD
Architects Civil Engineer

Building Constructor

Municipalities
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Structural Irregularities according to TEC

1. Irregularities in Plan
Torsional Irregularity (A1) Floor Discontinuity (A2) Projections in Plan(A3) Nonparallel Axis (A4) Discontinuity of Vertical Structural Elements (B3)

2. Irregularities in Vertical Direction

Weak Storey(B1) Soft Storey(B2)

Irregularities in Plan
A1- Torsional Irregularity Torsional irregularity is defined in the TEC-2007 as the the case where torsional irregularity factor bi which is defined for any of the two orthogonal earthquake directions as the ratio of the maximum storey drift at any storey to the average storey drift at the same storey in the same direction, is greater than 1.2, as follows:

bi =

i max i avg

> 1.2
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A1- Torsional Irregularity

bi =
i(max)

i max i avg

> 1.2

i(min)

EARTHQUAKE

Gravity and Rigidity Centre

BX
STRENGTH STRENGTH

Rigidity Center

ex R ey
G Gravity Center

G and R

EARTHQUAKE LOAD

EARTHQUAKE LOAD

By

Effective factors on torsional irregularity

the factors causing torsional irregularity can be categorized as follows: 1. The plan geometry 2. Rigidity distribution

The plan geometry/ Form

Simple plan geometry

Complex plan geometry

Rigidity distribution
Rigid core and torsion

Rijit ekirdek

ex

ex

G
DEPREM

ey

Rijit ekirdek

RM

G
DEPREM

ey

Rigidity distribution
Different collapses

M R

Solutions for torsional irregularity

To separate the complex forms into simple and compact

forms by using seismic separation joints.

Solutions for torsional irregularity

Softening of acute angle reentrant corners:

3 2 1 Ground

b (a) 1.21 1.19 1.18 1.17

b (b) 1.19 1.18 1.17 1.16

Solutions for torsional irregularity

Strengthening of acute angle reentrant corners:

According to this solution the buildings, which have acute angle corners such as the plan geometry of L and T type, are strengthened at weak points called notch points by vertical structural members. This method is widely used in America and Japon.

Strengthening of acute angle reentrant corners:

Solutions for torsional irregularity

Strengthening of flexible sides:

This solution suggests that rigid cores or stability walls can be used for preventing deformation between the wings of the building in case the rigidity center and the gravity center of the building do not coincide due to the plan geometry of the building.
For instance, open facades creates unbalanced perimeter in a building. Moreover, this causes the formation of the rigid and flexible sides in a building.

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Regular configuration of structural elements

The Vertical structural members should be ordered regularly in all directions.

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Regular configuration of structural elements

The vertical structural members should be connected with beams to form a rectangular frame and provide the continuity in rectangular frames. It is desired that one should avoid from the beam-to-beam connection (anchorage beam) without any vertical support.

Discontinuity of beams

Regular configuration of structural elements

One-way slabs cause large deformations and unexpected shear stresses on the structural members. It should be prevented. Slabs should work on both directions. In Turkey, over-stretched one-way slabs are often used to generate corridors in the apartment block projects. Both open and closed cantilever projections are widely constructed in Turkey. If it is necessary to use, the continuity between the beams is to be provided under the cantilever slabs. Moreover, a side beam should be designed to prevent critical displacement.

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Symmetric according to both plan geometry and rigidity distribution

If the structure has a central rigid core, it must be supported with shear walls which are located on the outer axis of the structure; otherwise it exposes to high torsional irregularity.

Despite the symmetrical plan geometry and rigidity distribution, structural elements type, their location in plan and their sufficiency play the most effective role on earthquake behaviour of structures.

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Irregular rigidity distribution

The models show favorable results against earthquake loads coming from symmetry direction.

Asymmetry in the rigidity distribution cause excessive torsional irregularity despite the symmetrical plan geometry.

Shear walls should be positioned symmetrically to provide similar rigidity distribution on both earthquake directions.

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Irregularities in Plan
A2-Floor Discontinuity According to the TEC-2007, type A2 irregularity which is called floor discontinuities are described as follows: In any floor; I - The case where the total area of the openings including those of stairs and elevator shafts exceeds 1/3 of the gross floor area, II The cases where local floor openings make it difficult the safe transfer of seismic loads to vertical structural elements, III The cases of abrupt reductions in the in-plane stiffness and strength of floors.

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(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Solutions for Floor discontinuity

If the ratio between the total areas of openings to the gross floor area is greater than 1/3, the diaphragm should be divided into simple and regular forms to provide the continuity in the distribution of the earthquake forces on slabs, and subsequently to the columns and shear walls. The reinforcement around the corners and edges of the openings may contribute to the continuity in floors. The rigidity of the columns and beams around the openings should be increased to balance the rigidity between floors.

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A3- Projections in Plan

The projection ratio has significant role on earthquake behaviour of structures. A3 irregularity which is called projections in plan is the cases where projections beyond the re-entrant corners in both of the two principal directions in plan exceed the total plan dimensions of the building in the respective directions by more than 20 % (TEC, 2007).

x>0.20Lx or y>0.20Ly

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Solutions for A3 irregularity

Seismic joints

Irregularities in Plan
A4- Nonparalel axis:
The TEC-2007 describes the A4 type of irregularity which is called Nonparallel Axes of Structural Elements as the cases where the principal axes of vertical structural elements in plan are not parallel to the considered orthogonal earthquake directions.

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Irregularities in Plan
A4- Nonparalel axis:

Solutions for A4 type of irregularity

To separate the buiding to the regular and simple parts by using sesimic separation joints. Increasing the internal force values.

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Irregularities in Vertical direction

B1- Weak storey B1 type of irregularity is defined in the TEC2007 that in reinforced concrete buildings, the case where in each of the orthogonal earthquake directions, Strength Irregularity Factor ci, which is defined as the ratio of the effective shear area of any storey to the effective shear area of the storey immediately above, is less than 0.80.

B1-Weak storey
If the ratio is between 0.8 and 0.6, there exists weak storey irregularity in structure. If it is less than 0.6, the structure must be redesigned until appropriate range of values are gained.

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B1-Weak storey / interstorey strength irregularity

Aw: Effective shear area of column Ag: Effective shear area of shear walls Ak: Effective shear area of wall

Ae = Aw + Ag + 0.15 Ak ci = (Ae)i / (Ae)i+1 < 0.80

B1- Weak storey

Inverted pyramid

Earthquake loads are directly proportional with the mass. Overturning moments will increase if the gravity center moves from ground to the upper levels.

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B1- Weak storey

Vertical setbacks:

B1-Weak storey
Considerable overhangs

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B1-Weak storey
Deficiency of shear walls in the ground floor

Solutions for B1- Weak storey

To create partly setbacks as pyramidal configuration (Figure 3.18) To create seismic separation joints To provide equal strength between stories To leave joint between column and wall To make isolation

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Solutions for B1- Weak storey

B2- Soft storey / Interstorey stiffness irregularity

B2 type of irregularity is defined in the TEC-2007 as the case where in each of the two orthogonal earthquake directions, stiffness irregularity factor ki, which is defined as the ratio of the average storey drift at any storey to the average storey drift at the storey immediately above or below, is greater than 2.0

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B2- Soft storey / Interstorey stiffness irregularity

[ki = (i/hi)ort / (i+1/hi+1)ort > 2.0 or ki = (i /hi)ort / (i1/hi1)ort > 2.0]

B2- Soft storey / Interstorey stiffness irregularity

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Solutions for B2- Soft storey

a) Add bracing elements which stiffen the columns up to a level b) Add additional columns at ground storey to increase the stiffness c) Increase the cross-sections of the columns at first storey. d) Add external buttresses e) Create vaults on the ground floor

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Solutions for B2- Soft storey

B3-Discontinuity of Vertical Structural Elements

a) Gusseted columns or the columns which rest on cantilever beams are prohibited b) In the case where a column rest on a beam supported with columns at both ends, all internal forces consisting vertical loads and seismic loads from the earthquake direction shall be increased by 50 % at all sections of the all beams and the columns which are adjacent to the beam

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B3-Discontinuity of Vertical Structural Elements

c) In no case the shear walls should be allowed to rest under the columns d) In no case the shear walls should be allowed to rest on the beams

B3-Discontinuity of Vertical Structural Elements

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Short column effect

Mezzanine floors Mechanical floors Hillside sides Graded foundation Adjacent columns to the openings Stair landing

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Strong beam-weak column

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Seismic pounding effect

There are various parameters causing irregularity of pounding in structures. They can be listed as follows: a) Soft ground floors b) Irregular plan geometry c) Setbacks d) Liquefaction

Pounding due to the torsion

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Pounding due to the liquefaction

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Seismic gaps
Minimum size of the seismic gaps should be 30 mm up to 6 m height. From thereon a minimum 10 mm shall be added for every 3 m height increment.

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Samsun,2006

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Conclusions
Effective Factors for Structural Irregularities: Architectural form (Plan Geometry) Configuration of structural elements (Rigidity Distribution) The number of structural axis The number of stories Floor opening ratio Positions of floor openings in plan Positions of Shear walls according to the floor openings Projection ratio & Projection direction or symmetry condition Overhang directions & Symmetry in plan geometry & Building mass Structural configuration is much more important than plan geometry
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Thank you for your interest

Tuba NAN
IZMIR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

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