Concept on positioning of Columns

Question 1:

Comment on the layout of the framing plan concerning earthquake resistance in the two horizontal directions X or Y (dots are columns, lines depict beams). Look into aspects of symmetry, redundancy and bi-directional stiffness and ductility.

ANS-

symmetry :

- along x-direction - if we split the plan vertically half, it will looked mirrored. so we conclude the given plan symmetric in x-direction

- along y-direction - if we split the plan horizontally half, it will looked mirrored. so we conclude the given plan symmetric in y-direction

redundancy :

- the column in x-direction are comparatively more and evenly spaced. so the structure is more redundant in x-direction. except the top and bottom column rows are having longer span.

- the column in y-direction are comparatevly lesser but evenly spaced. so the structure is redundant but lesser than that of in x-direction

bi-directional stiffness :

- the column in horizontal direction are connected with straight to straight beams. this means, any lateral load (seismic force in x-direction) passing from left end of the building will have its path straight till it reaches right end of the building. so no or less possibility of force diversion takes place.

- the column in vertical direction are not connected with straight to straight beams. so a lateral load passing from south side of building will get diverted to east and west direction to reach next bay. there will be major force diversion take place with seismic force in y-direction. the framing plan is weak with respect to bidirectional stiffness in y- direction.

ductility :

- prima facie, the aspect ratio of the plan clearly hints more column in x-direction compared to y-direction. it will result in higer stiffness of the building in x-direction, which would reduce ductility in x-axis.

- moreover the force will easily pass from one bay to its next due to beam alignment. where as the y-force will struggle to pass through. the north south beam are arranged in zig zag which leads to discontinuous bracing.

- we can conclude that the given framing plan is more ductile in y-direction than that of in x-direction.

Question 2:

What are the possible sources of irregularity in the building shown here? Explain how, as an engineer, each of these irregularities should be dealt with.

ans-

a. vertical irregularity :

- the building plan area is large in bottom stories. the floor plan area are getting reduced with increase in height. these building offset has to be cross checked with reference to IS-1893-2016 table 6, serial no.3

b. soft storey :

- the building has uncovered opening space in 6th floor. as there is no occupancy or a partition wall, this will lead to plastic hinge formation at the columns ( with reference to IS-1893-2016 figure4A.0 this has to be checked and sufficinatly designed.

c. slopy base :

- the building is constructed on a sloping ground at one side. this will lead to significant variations in the stiffness (with reference to IS-1893-2016 figure 5E. few levels may be subjected to soft storey mechanism.

Question 3:

A 4-storey hotel building has an open ground floor for the restaurant. Story 2 to 4 have one row of rooms along each long side in plan, separated by a corridor. The two short sides of the perimeter are fully in-filled in all storeys, except for certain openings at the ends of the corridor at storeys 2 to 4 and along the right-hand side of the ground floor. There is a staircase near the upper left-hand corner, with straight flights between landings at floor levels and in-between floors. Cross-section dimensions are written next to the member no. in meters.

Comment on the features of the structural design and of the layout of infills which are important for earthquake resistance and seismic performance. How do they relate to the almost full collapse of this building (the extreme left-hand bay with the staircase survived, as well as one long-side façade in the rear end, and the frame along the right-hand side in plan).

ans-

- open ground floor- this denotes soft storey mechanism acting in building.

- rooms along 2 bays seperated by an open corridor - the bays filled with rooms will have higher mass compared to the middle bay left open for corridor. this include mass irregularity along height uniformly.

- two short sides covered with infill walls - this means the buildings left and right sides periphery is more stiffer during seismic forces ( especially along north-south).

- staircase portion at left top corner - usually staircase and lift portions are stiffer than other parts beacause of concentrated concrete elements. so the staircase portion contains more stiffness in the provided building plan.

- no framing connection along y-direction - we could see no structural beams provided along the vertical direction between columns. this makes the building more vulnerable during the north south seismic force.

- beam connected along column minor axes - the columns are having longer dimensions in y-direction. this means they are more stiffer along y-direction. but the beam are running only along x-direction which would attract much lesser lateral forces and hardly transfers it.

- variations in column sizes - the internal columns are having higher sizes comapred to exterior columns ( this common because of higher load demand ) but this will leads to significant difference in lateral drift of columns. so the concrete floor might have suffered heavy out of plane shear which would led to collapse.