Influential Parameters for the Design of Nonstructural Components in Multi-Story Buildings

Abstract eng:
Damage to nonstructural components may conduce heavy financial losses and injuries; therefore, it is a necessity for these components to be carefully designed for seismic loads. Meanwhile, even the most recent editions of the corresponding codes and instructions are still based on some assumptions that impair their accuracy and degree of conservatism. In this paper, it is intended to highlight the influential effect of some of these assumptions and the other related parameters that affect the floor acceleration response in buildings. For this reason, this paper constitutes the nonlinear dynamic time-history analysis of seven codedesigned multi-story regular steel moment-resisting frames which have been subjected to selected strong ground motions (SGMs) for each individual building. Floor acceleration response spectra (FARS) have been calculated for the building floors. The spectra have been computed for the case of the components having dynamic interaction with the primary structure or not, so that the influence of the dynamic interaction is spotlighted. Besides, the FARS have been specified for different component mass ratios so as to account for the effect of the component weight. Another factor which is neglected in most of the instructions and studies is damping. Different damping coefficients have been utilized to investigate the effect of this parameter. The frame beams have the freedom to bend; therefore, the buildings are not consisted of simple shear frames. The effects of all mentioned parameters have been quantitatively illustrated and the results have been compared with each other for various cases. It is found that the mass ratio of the component, the degree of damping in primary or secondary systems, and the interaction between the primary and the secondary structure are crucial factors to be considered in seismic design of nonstructural components (NSCs), which regarding them helps improve the precision of studies. Moreover, results indicate that in contrary to the assumptions of current seismic codes, not always does the fundamental vibration mode of the primary structure produce the highest floor acceleration responses. Also, it can be inferred that if such factors are included in seismic design codes, their level of conservatism can become more rational and proposed methods can get closer to reality.

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