• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.163-175
• /
• 2010

The vertical axis through the modal center of rigidity (m-CR) is used for interpreting the code torsional provisions in the design of eccentric multi-story building structures. The concept of m-CR has been demonstrated by the author in an earlier paper and the particular feature of this point is that when the vertical line of the centers of mass at the floor levels is passing through m-CR, minimum base torsion is developed. For this reason the aforesaid axis is used as reference axis for implementing the code provisions required by the equivalent static analysis. The study examines uniform mixed-bent-type multistory buildings with simple eccentricity, ranging from torsionally stiff to torsionally flexible systems. Using the results of a dynamic response spectrum analysis as a basis for comparisons, it is shown that the results of the code static design are on the safe side in torsionally stiff buildings, but unable to predict the required strength of bents on the stiff side of systems with a predominantly torsional response. Suggestions are made for improving the code provisions in such cases.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.45-58
• /
• 2017

Recent investigations have pointed out that current code provisions specifying that the stiffness of reinforced concrete elements is strength independent, and therefore can be estimated prior to any strength assignment, is incorrect. A strength allocation strategy, suitable for preliminary structural design of medium height wall-frame dual systems, is presented for allocating strength in such buildings and estimating the dependable rigidities. The design process may be implemented by either the approximate continuous approach or the stiffness matrix method. It is based on the concept of the inelastic equivalent single-degree-of-freedom system which, the last few years, has been used to implement the performance based seismic design. The aforesaid strategy may also be used to determine structural configurations of minimum rotation distortion. It is shown that when the location of the modal centre of rigidity, as described in author's recent papers, is within a close distance from the mass axis the torsional response is mitigated. The methodology is illustrated in ten story building configurations, whose torsional response is examined under the ground motion of Kobe 1995, component KJM000.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.39-55
• /
• 2014

A modified procedure is presented for assessing the seismic response of elastic non-proportionate multistory buildings. This procedure retains the simplicity of the methodology presented by the author in earlier papers, but it presents higher accuracy in buildings composed by very dissimilar types of bents. As a result, not only frequencies and peak values of base resultant forces are determined with higher accuracy, but also the location of the first mode center of rigidity (m1-CR). The closeness of m1-CR with the axis passing through the centers of floor masses (mass axis) implies a reduced rotational response and it is demonstrated that in elastic systemsa practically translational response is obtained when this point lies on the mass axis.Besides, when common types of buildings are detailed as planar structures under a code load, this response is maintained in the inelastic phase of their response as a result of the almost concurrent yielding of all the resisting bents. This property of m1-CR can be used by the practicing engineer as a guideline to form a structural configuration which will sustain minimum rotational response, simply by allocating the resisting elements in such a way that this point lies close to the mass axis. Inelastic multistory building structures, detailed as above, may be regarded as torsionally balanced multistory systems and this is demonstrated in eight story buildings, composed by dissimilar bents, under the ground motions of Kobe 1995 (component KJM000) and Friuli 1976 (component Tolmezzo E-W).

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.153-178
• /
• 2008

Based on the empirical formulas for power spectra of generalized modal forces and local fluctuating wind forces in across-wind and torsional directions, the wind-induced lateral-torsional coupled response analysis of a representative rectangular tall building was conducted by setting various parameters such as eccentricities in centers of mass and/or rigidity and considering different torsional to lateral stiffness ratios. The eccentricity effects on the lateral-torsional coupled responses of the tall building were studied comprehensively by structural dynamic analysis. Extensive computational results indicated that the torsional responses at the geometric center of the building may be significantly affected by the eccentricities in the centers of mass and/or rigidity. Covariance responses were found to be in the same order of magnitude as the along-wind or across-wind responses in many eccentricity cases, suggesting that the lateral-torsional coupled effects on the overall wind-induced responses can not be neglected for such situations. The calculated results also demonstrated that the torsional motion contributed significantly to the total responses of rectangular tall buildings with mass and/or rigidity eccentricities. It was shown through this study that the framework presented in this paper provides a useful tool to evaluate the wind-induced lateral-torsional coupled responses of rectangular buildings, which will enable structural engineers in the preliminary design stages to assess the serviceability of tall buildings, potential structural vibration problems and the need for a detailed wind tunnel test.