EVALUATION OF SITE-SPECIFIC SEISMIC DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR THREE CANADIAN CITIES

Seismic design requirements as specified in building codes normally use a generic approach in which the seismic response is independent of the site location, except for a single intensity-related parameter used to define the severity of the expected ground motion. In reality, the characteristics of earthquake that influence structural response depend on both the level of seismic motion and the seismo-techtonic environment at the specific location. This paper describes a methodology for determining seismic design requirements that uses both magnitude (M) and epicentral distance (R) to define the seismo-tectonic environment. Ensembles of actual seismic strong motion records are selected to match the combinations of M and R that dominate the seismic risk at a specific location. These time histories are used to determine both response spectra and seismic response factors (as used in the 1985 edition of the National Building Code, NBCC 1985) for the location in question. This paper applies this methodology to Vancouver, Ottawa, and Quebec City and compares the results with the response spectra and seismic response factors specified in NBCC 1985. The results indicate that site-specific investigation of seismic design requirements is important in distinguishing between locations having different seismo-tectonic environments.

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• Corporate Authors:

  National Research Council of Canada

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• Authors:
  • Heiddebrecht, A C
  • Naumoski, N
• Publication Date: 1988-6

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 409-423
• Serial:
  • Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: National Research Council of Canada
  • ISSN: 0315-1468
  • Serial URL: http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/loi/cjce

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Building codes; Earthquake resistant design; Earthquake resistant structures; Seismicity; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Seismic response; Site investigation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways; Law; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00476661
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1988 12:00AM