Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Nonlinear Structural Response of RC Building with Setback Irregularity and Subjected to Mainshock-Aftershocks Seismic Events | Chapter 7 | Engineering Research: Perspectives on Recent Advances Vol. 10

 

The seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with setback irregularities under sequential mainshock-aftershock sequences is a critical case but often overlooked in conventional design practices. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the nonlinear seismic response of a G+8 RC building with setback irregularities subjected to earthquake sequences. Three models were developed: the first model is a regular RC frame, the second model has vertical irregularity (setback irregularity) where the floor area reduces by nearly 26% from the 7th to 9th story, and the third model has vertical irregularity between the 4th and 9th storey.

 

The hybrid nonlinear modelling is employed by incorporating plastic hinges for beams and fibre hinges for columns, with hysteretic energy dissipation defined for concrete and steel fibres. The models are analysed by considering three different ground motions (low, medium, and higher intensities) resulting from major earthquakes: Chamoli (1999), Valparaíso (1985), and Coalinga (1983), incorporating both mainshocks and their aftershocks. The nonlinear time history analyses are performed using the latest ETABS software v22.3.0 to capture the dynamic response under these complex ground motion accelerations.

 

The results reveal that the setback irregular buildings exhibited higher vulnerability, marked by increased storey displacements, amplified inter-storey drifts, and a critical demand-to-capacity (D/C) ratio, with the third model showing the most severe response. Notably, the third model experiences a peak lateral displacement of nearly 275mm and a maximum inter-storey drift ratio of 0.018613, exceeding safety thresholds under several loading conditions, whereas the first model recorded the lowest displacement of about 41 mm and the minimum inter-storey drift of 0.002430, thereby demonstrating the highest efficiency among all models. The formation of plastic hinges signifies a substantial risk of failure/collapse.

 

The findings underscore the critical need to incorporate the effects of setback irregularities, nonlinear behaviour, and main shock and aftershocks sequences in seismic design protocols, to ensure reliable performance and predictions to enhance structural resilience against catastrophic events. In view of practical application, such considerations can guide safer design and performance-based evaluation of RC buildings.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Tulsi Meena
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India.

 

M.S. Hora
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/erpra/v10/6153

 

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