Effects of scaling of earthquake excitations on dynamic response of reinforced concrete frame buildings

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various scaling techniques of real accelerograms on the response of medium height moment-resisting reinforced concrete frame buildings. Detailed inelastic time-history analyses were conducted on three reinforced concrete frame buildings. Three scaling methods were used, i.e. (i) based on the spectral ordinate at the fundamental period of the building, (ii) based on the area under the spectral curve between the first and the second natural periods of vibration of the building (referred to as partial area), and (iii) based on the total area under the spectral curve throughout the whole period range (referred to as full area). Each scaling was conducted relative to the corresponding design spectrum (for Vancouver or Montreal) as prescribed in the 2005 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC 2005). The response parameters that were investigated in this evaluation study were the interstorey drifts, curvature ductility demands in the beams, and curvature ductility demands in the columns of the buildings. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)