Concept on positioning of Columns

CHALLENGE 4:

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.

Answer:-

• Investigation of the framing plan with respect to symmetry in X-direction-If we split the plan vertically half, it will look mirrored. So we conclude te given plan is symmetrical in X-direction.
• Investigation of the framing plan with respect to symmetry in Y-direction-If we split the plan horizontally half, it will look mirrored. So we conclude te given plan is symmetrical in Y-direction.
• Investigation of the framing plan with respect to Redundancy in X-direction- The columns in X-direction are comparatively more and evenly spaced. So the structure is more redundant in x-direction. Except the top and bottomcolumn rows are having quite longer span
• Investigation of the framing plan with respect to Redundancy in Y-direction- THe columns in Y-direction are comparatively lesser but evenly spaced. So the structure is redundant but lesser than that ofin x-direction.
• Investigation with respect to Bi-directional stiffness- The columns are 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 columns are vertical direction are not connected withstraight 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 bi-directional stiffness in Y-direction.

• Investigation of the framing plan with respect to Ductility -

Prima facie, the aspect ratio of the plan clearly hints more columns in the x-direction compared to the y-direction. It will result in the hinger stiffness of the building in x-direction, which would reduce ductility in x-axis.

Moreover, the x-force will easily pass from one bay to its next due to beam alignment. Whereas, the y-force will struggle to pass through. The north-south beams are arranged in zig-zag which leads to a discontinuous bracing.

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

Answer:-

• Vertical irregularity: The plan area is large in bottom stories. The floor plan areas are getting reduced with increase in the height. These building offsets has to be crosschecked with reference to IS 1893-2016 Table 6 serial number (iii).
• Soft story : The building has uncovered opening space in the 6th floor. As there is o occupancy or a partition walls, this will leads to the plastic hinge formation at the columns (with reference to IS 1893-2016 figure 4A). This has to be checked and sufficiently desgned.
• Slopy base : The building is constructed on a slopping ground at one side. This will lead to significant variations in the stiffness (with reference to the IS 1893-2016 figure SE). 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).

Answer:-

• Open ground floor:- This denotes soft storey mechanism acting in the building
• Rooms along 2Bays separated by an open corridor:- The bays filled with rooms will have higher mass compared to the middle bay left open for corridor. This induces mass irregularity along the height uniformly.
• Two shorts covered with nfills walls:- This means the building's left and right sides periphery is more stiffer during seismic forces (Especially along North-South).
• Staircase portions at left top corner:- Usually staircase and lift portions are stiffer than other parts because 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 seosmic force.
• Beams connected along column minor axis:- The columns are having longer dimension in y-direction. This means they are more stiffer along y-direction. But the beams are running only along x-direction which would attract much lesser lateral forces and hardly transfers it.
• Variation in column sizes :- The internal columns are having higher sizes compared to the exterior columns (This is common because of the higher load demmands). But this will leads to significant difference in the lateral drift of columns. So the concrete floor might have suffered heavy out ot place shear which would led to collapse.