The Study of Resistance to Seismic Vibrations of Low-Rise Buildings According to Standard Construction Drawings

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the earthquake resistance of the building with less than 15 meters height located in 3 different earthquake risk areas of Thailand, according to the ministerial regulations of 2564 (2011). This research investigated 3 buildings based on the government standard drawing, consisting of school building, office building and janitor's house. Those building structures were analyzed for earthquake resistance by using equivalent static analysis and modified response spectrum analysis according DPW1302-61 standard used by Department of Public Work and Town Planning. Finite element program, EtabsV.17, was used to analyze the structures. It was found that the buildings with symmetrical configuration and located in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas would be safe from earthquake. On the other hand, the buildings located in Zone 3 area, where the highest earthquake force occurs in Thailand, would not be safe from earthquake because the actual moment and shear force in columns would be higher than their moment and shear force capacity. As a result, the structural detail of these buildings should be adjusted in order to reduce internal force in the columns or columns need to be strengthened by adding more tie bars and main rebars in the column section.