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Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure

The ASCE 7 Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure


consists of determining the total lateral force, or
shear at the base (V) from the following formula:

V=C
s
W

Where:
C
s
=seismic response coefficient =S
DS
/(R/I)
W=effective seismic weight, including the total
dead load of the building

This formula can be rewritten as:

V =S
DS
WI/R

It might help to understand this formula if we go
back to the basic relationship between force
and acceleration, which is F =Ma. This is
equivalent to V =S
DS
W.

The importance factor I is introduced, in order to
increase V for certain critical structures. Thus, V =
S
DS
WI.

Now we take that value of V and reduce it by the
coefficient R
w
, to account for the ability of the
structural system to accommodate loads and
absorb energy considerably in excess of the usual
allowable stresses without collapsing, and thus,

V =W, the basic seismic formula.

In the paragraphs that follow, we will explain the
terms in this formula in more detail.

The seismic force V is generally evaluated in two
horizontal directions parallel to the main axes of
the building. For buildings assigned to SDC A and
B, the structure must be able to resist effects
caused by seismic forces in either direction,
although not in both directions simultaneously. The
same is true for buildings assigned to SDC C,
except for those buildings possessing a
nonparallel systems horizontal irregularity,
where the vertical elements of the seismic-
force resisting system are not parallel to or
symmetric about the major orthogonal (right-
angle) axes of the seismic-force-resisting
system. Building irregularities are discussed in
greater detail below. When such a horizontal
discontinuity exists, structural members must
be designed to resist the effects from the
simultaneous application of 100 percent of
the seismic forces in one direction and 30
percent of the seismic forces in the
orthogonal direction. Buildings assigned to
SDC D through F must conform to these
same requirements.

Additionally, any column or wall that is part
of two intersecting seismic-force-resisting
systems and that is subjected to an axial
load due to seismic forces greater than 20
percent of the axial design strength of the
member must be designed for the most
critical effects due to seismic forces acting
in any direction. ASCE 7 gives procedures
on how to satisfy the direction of loading
requirements for SDC D through F.

Seismic Response Coefficient, C
s


The formulas for C
s
given in the code are
used to determine the base shear V. These
formulas form the basis of the design
spectrum of the Equivalent Lateral Force
Procedure. The design spectrum is
illustrated below for a typical building. Note
the similarities between the shape of the
design spectrum and the response spectra
presented in Figure 12.14.

As noted previously, the seismic response
coefficient C
s
is determined by the following
formula:

C =S
DS
/(R/I)

The above formula is independent of the period
of the building and represents the horizontal
line (short-period response) of the design
spectrum. Note that in the Equivalent Lateral
Force Procedure, the horizontal portion of the
spectrum begins at a period equal to zero and
extends to a period equal to T
s
=S
D1
/S
DS
, which is
slightly different than what is depicted in the
previous figures of the response spectra. Ignor-
ing the initial linear segment of the curve at low
periods is mainly for simplicity, since that
portion of the spectrum rarely has an effect on
the design of a typical building.

The value of C
s
need not exceed the following:

C
s
=S
D1
/T(R/I) for T less than or equal to T
L
C, =S
D1
T
L
/T
2
(R/I) for T greater than T
L


It is evident from these formulas that C
s
is
dependent on the fundamental period of the
building T, which is discussed later.

The first of these formulas represents the
descending portion of the design spectrum
(long-period response) up to the period T
L
, where
T
L
is the long-period transition period. ASCE 7
Figures 22-15 through 22-20 contain T
L
values.
Figure 22-15, for the contiguous U.S., is
reproduced below. The second formula represents
the descending portion of the design spectrum for
periods greater than T
L
. For typical buildings, the
fundamental period of the building T is usually
much less than T
L
.

The code also requires that C
s
be no less than
0.01. This essentially sets a minimum base shear
V equal to 1 percent of the effective seismic weight
W, which is the same minimum horizontal force
requirement for buildings assigned to SDC A. This
minimum V may govern in cases where the period
of the building is large. In addition, for buildings
located in regions of high seismic risk where S, is
greater than or equal to 0.6g, the minimum C
s
is
determined by the following formula:

C
s
=0.5S/(R/I)

A form of this lower-bound formula originally
appeared in the 1997 Uniform Building Code, and
was first adopted in response to the 1994
Northridge earthquake in Southern California.

The code sets an upper limit on the value of S
s
when computing C
s
by the above formulas. In
particular, the value of S
s
need not exceed 1.5g in
regular buildings that are five stories or less in
height and that have a fundamental period T less
than or equal to 0.5 second.

The value of the fundamental period of vibration of
the building T may be approximated from the
following formula:

T =C,(h
n
)>

where C
t
and x are parameters that depend on the
structure type and h
n
is the height of the building in
feet. Values of C
t
and x are given in Table 12.8-2 of
ASCE 7, which is reproduced in Figure 12.15.
Note that in the formula for T, h
n
is raised to the
x power where x varies from 0.75 to 0.9. These
calculations must be done on a calculator that
has a function of raising numbers to a power.

Two other formulas are provided in the code
that may be used to determine T when certain
conditions are satisfied. The above formula can
be used in any situation.

I Factor

I is the importance factor as defined by ASCE 7
Table 11.5-1:

You can see that the value of I for earthquake is
either 1.0, 1.25, or 1.5, depending on the occu-
pancy category of the building.

Hence, essential facilities such as hospitals and
fire and police stations are designed for seismic
forces 50 percent greater than normal (I =
1.5). In this way, such emergency facilities are
expected to be safe and usable following an
earthquake. Buildings containing certain highly
toxic substances must also be designed to
these higher standards.

Similarly, high-occupancy buildings that
represent a substantial hazard to human life
schools, health care facilities, and stadiums
must be designed for seismic forces 25 percent
greater than normal (I =1.25).

Response Modi fi cati on Factor, R

When we design a structural system to resist
dead, live, and wind loads, we attempt to keep
deformations and stresses within acceptably
low limits. However, it would be economically
prohibitive to use those same limitations when
designing for the maximum expected earth-
quake motion. Instead, the basic philosophy of
seismic design is that the structure be able to
accommodate the maximum expected earth-
quake without collapse. Although the structure
is expected to ride out the earthquake, inelastic
deformation is expected to occur, as well as
structural and nonstructural damage.

The Response Modification Factor R, which is
determined by the type of lateral load resisting
system used, is a measure of the system's
ability to accommodate earthquake loads and
absorb energy without collapse. A stiff, brittle
structure has a low value of R, while a resilient,
ductile system has a high value of R. Later in this
lesson we will discuss the R values of various
lateral load resisting systems in more detail.

Effective Seismic Weight, W

The effective seismic weight W of a building
includes all of the dead loads and applicable
portions of other loads, as follows:
1. In storage occupancies (including
warehouses), 25 percent of the floor live load.
Note that floor live load in public garages
and open parking structures need not be
included.
2. Where a partition load is used in the floor
design, the actual weight of the partitions,
or a minimum weight of 10 psf.
3. The operating weight of any equipment
permanently attached to the building.
4. Where the flat roof snow load exceeds 30
psf, 20 percent of the uniform design snow
load, regardless of the roof slope.

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