GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING THE SEISMIC RESISTANCE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

This report presents a methodology for evaluating an existing building's seismic resistance. The method uses a design response spectrum and modal analysis techniques to compute a linearly elastic structural response. This is compared to the structure's yield capacity to obtain a factor denoting the structure's required energy dissipation capacity. Charts suitable for design office application are provided for use in estimating the levels of structural damping and ductility consistent with the required energy dissipation. Various structural characteristics pertinent to the building's suitability for seismic loading are discussed. The method compares these structural characteristics to the computed structural damping and ductility to reach a judgment concerning the likelihood of structural failure during an earthquake. Several appendices are included to provide additional technical support for the methodology. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory

  P.O. Box 4005
  Champaign, IL  United States  61820
• Authors:
  • Lybas, J M
• Publication Date: 1977-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 133 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Damping (Physics); Dissipation; Ductility; Earthquakes; Failure; Seismicity; Structural analysis; Structural design
• Old TRIS Terms: Resistance; Seismic properties
• Subject Areas: Energy; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164397
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CERL-TR-M-213 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 8 1977 12:00AM