Soil Dynamics

Lecture 12

Seismic Codes

California Building Code – Part II

In a Problem Format
 List of Symbols.

- ap is the in-structure component of the amplification factor.

- Ca is the seismic response coefficient for proximity.
- Cp is the horizontal force factor.
- Ct is a numerical coefficient for the period.
- Cv is the seismic response coefficient.
- Fp is total (design or service) lateral seismic force.
- Ft is the concentrated force at the top of the structure.
- hn is defined as the height of the building above the base to the nth level.
- I is the seismic importance factor.
- Na is the near source factor for Ca.
- Nv is the near source factor for Cv.
- R is the response modification factor; it reflects the inherent over-strength and
global ductility capacity of different lateral-force resisting systems.
- Rp is the component response modification factor; the horizontal force factor.
- S is the soil profile classification, such as, SA, SB, SC, SD, SE and SF).
- T is the fundamental period.
- V is the base shear force.
- W is the weight of the entire structure (dead + live loads).
- Z is the seismic zone influence factor.
- Ωo is the seismic force amplification factor.
- ∆s is the inter-story drift.
Question #01.

CBC provides the following formula to determine the fundamental period T of a

building with reinforced concrete shear walls (Method A, Section 1630.2.2),

  De  
2
0.1
AC = ∑ Ae 0.2 +    where C t =
  hn   Ac

What is the maximum value of De / hn ?

A. 0.30.

B. 0.90.

C. 2.75.

D. ⅜ Rw
Answer to #01.

B.

Method A of the CBC Section 1630.2.2, Item 1 details that the value of De / hn should
not exceed 0.9 when used in CBC Formula 30-9.
Question #02.

In order to determine the fundamental period T of a building, the CBC gives the
following formula,
n

∑w δ i i
2

T = 2π i =1
n
g ∑ f iδ i
i =1
This formula represents,

A. The period defined by Method A.

B. The period defined by Method B.

C. The static period.

D. The dynamic period.

Answer to #02.

B.

Model B defined in CBC Section 1630.2.2, Item 2, Formula 30-10 used to calculate
the fundamental period T. The terms static period and dynamic period have no
meaning.
Question #03.

The natural period T of a building is 4 seconds. At the roof level of the structure,
the concentrated force Ft (which is additional to the base shear V), should be
determined by which of the following formulas?

A. Ft = 0

B. Ft = 0.07 TV

C. Ft = Ct (hn)0.75

D. Ft = 0.25 V
Answer to #03.

D.

CBC Section 1630.5 states that, if the value of T is 0.7 seconds or less, the additional
concentrated force at the top, Ft is equal to zero.

Otherwise, use the CBC Formula 30-14, Ft = 0.07 TV

For this problem’s structure, the natural period of 4 seconds, is greater than 0.7
seconds, so use Formula 30-14.

However, Ft need not exceed 0.25 V, therefore perform the following calculation,

Ft = 0.07 TV = (0.07)(4 sec) V = 0.28 V

Since 0.28 V is greater than the maximum value of 0.25 V, use Ft = 0.25 V.
Question #04.

If a building’s natural period T is 0.60 seconds, what is the concentrated force Ft at

the top of the structure?

A. Ft = 0

B. Ft = 0.06 TV

C. Ft = 0.07 TV

D. Ft = 0.25 V
Answer to #04.

A.

CBC Section 1630.5 states that the concentrated force at the top Ft is determined
from Formula 30-14, that is,
Ft = 0.07 TV

This formula should be used when T is greater than 0.7 seconds. If T is less or equal
to 0.7 seconds, then Ft can be considered to be zero.
Question #05.

The maximum base shear V can be calculated from which of the following formulas?

C I 
A. V =  V  W
 RT 

 2.5Ca I 
B. V =   W
 R 

C . V = 0.11C a I W

 0.8 ZNV I 
D. V =   W
 R 
Answer to #05.

B.

For the base shear V the CBC Formula 30-4 should be used,

 CV I 
V =  W
 RT 
However, CBC Section 1630.2.1 states that the maximum base shear can be
calculated from,
 2.5C a I 
V =  W
 R 
The seismic coefficients Ca and Cv can be obtained from CBC Tables 16-Q and 16-R
respectively. The maximum value of

CV
is 2.5C a
T
Question #06.

Which of the following systems is without a complete vertical load-carrying space

frame?

A. A bearing wall system.

B. A moment-resisting frame.

C. A building frame system.

D. Dual systems.
Answer to #06.

A.

CBC Section 1629.6.2 defines a bearing wall system as a structural system that is
without a complete vertical load-carrying frame.

Bearing walls give support for all of the gravity loads, and the lateral loads are
resisted by either shear walls or by braced frames.
Question #07.

For a moment-resisting structural system, resistance to lateral loads is provided by

which of the following?

A. Complete space frames.

B. Shear walls.

C. Braced frames.

D. The flexural action of its members.

Answer to #07.

D.

Moment-resisting structural systems are designed as complete frames that support

both vertical and lateral loads.

CBC Section 1629.6.4 states that the lateral resistance to loads from moment-resisting
systems must be provided by the flexural actions of its members.
Question #08.

Which of the following structural systems have the lowest ductility for structures
that are three stories or less in height?

A. Reinforced concrete shear walls.

B. Steel braced bearing walls.

C. Heavy timber braced bearing walls.

D. Wood structural panels bearing walls.

Answer to #08.

C.

The response modification factor R has been assigned to reflect the inherent over-
strength and global ductility capacity of different lateral-force resisting systems. As
the value of R decreases, the ductility of the structure decreases.

For the R values, CBC uses table 16-N, which are for this problem,

A. R = 4.5

B. R = 4.4

C. R = 2.8

D. R = 5.5
Question #09.

Reinforced concrete is preferred over steel for designing a seven-story apartment

complex in Los Angeles. What type of moment-resisting frame should be used?

A. Special.

B. Intermediate.

C. Ordinary.

D. Any of the above.

Answer to #09.

A.

There are three types of reinforced concrete moment-resisting frames:

- special,
- intermediate, and
- ordinary.

These reinforced concrete frames are required by design to be part of the lateral-
force resisting system.

The CBC permits these three systems to be constructed only in certain seismic
zones. Los Angeles is in seismic zone 4. CBC Table 16-N, footnotes 5 and 8, and
Section 1633.2.7, Item 1 narrow the choice to a special moment-resisting reinforced
concrete frame.
Question #10.

For a building in San Francisco, different types of structural systems are being
analyzed. Since the height of the buildings is 200 feet (61 m) which of the
following combinations are allowed by the CBC?

I dual systems
II special moment-resisting frames
III building frame systems

A. I only.

B. I and II.

C. I and III.

D. I, II and III.
Answer to #10.

B.

The CBC Section 1630.4.3 allows only combinations of dual systems and special
moment-resisting frames to be used to resist seismic forces in seismic zones 3 and 4,
plus any structure exceeding a height of 160 feet (48.8 m).
Question #11.

A structure consists of a special moment-resisting steel frame and shear walls.

According to CBC requirements, what is the lowest percentage of base shear V

that the special moment-resisting steel frame must resist independently?

A. 0%

B. 25%

C. 50%

D. 75%
Answer to #11.

B.

Since the structure consists of a combination of a special moment-resisting steel

frame and shear walls, the CBC Section 1629.6.5 defines it as a dual system.

For dual systems, CBC Section 1629.6.5, item 2 specifies that the moment-resisting
frames shall be designed to independently resist at least 25% of the design base
shear V.
Question #12.

Consider an 80 foot (24.4 m) tall building with a special moment-resisting steel

frame.

Applying Method A of CBC Section 1630.2.2, what is the period T of the building?

A. 0.40 seconds.

B. 0.53 seconds.

C. 0.80 seconds.

D. 0.94 seconds.
Answer to #12.

D.

CBC Section 1630.2.2, Item 1 gives the value of Ct = 0.035 for steel moment-resisting
frame structures.

Using Formula 30-8 of Method A, the building period T is given by,

T = C t ( hn ) = ( 0.035 )( 80 )
3/ 4 0.75
= 0.94 seconds

where hn is defined as the height of the building in feet.

Question #13.

The three types of structures shown below are all located in seismic zone 4 with the
same soil profile. If an earthquake occurs with a predominant period T of 0.6
seconds, which of the following buildings has the greatest possibility of being in
resonance with the earthquake?

A. I only.

B. I and II.

C. II and III.

D. I, II and III.
Answer to #13.

D.

Resonance occurs when the building period coincides with the earthquake period. Each
building’s period T is found from CBC Formula 30-8, whilst choosing Ct from CBC
Section 1630.2.2, Item 1, namely,
Ct = 0.020 for structure I,
Ct = 0.035 for structure II, and
Ct = 0.030 for structure III.

Therefore,
TI = C t ( hn ) = ( 0.020 )( 93.2 )
3/ 4 0.75
= 0.6 seconds
TII = C t ( hn ) = ( 0.035 )( 44.2 )
3/ 4 0.75
= 0.6 seconds
TIII = C t ( hn ) = ( 0.030 )( 54.3)
3/ 4 0.75
= 0.6 seconds
All of the buildings have an equal fundamental period of vibration, and they are all
located on the same soil profile. Therefore, all three buildings have the same possibility
of being in resonance with the earthquake.
Question #14.

A ten-story office building is being designed for the city of Los Angeles. The building
will be placed on a site with a soil profile type SB, with R = 5.6, W = 2 Mips, Na = 1.0
and Nv = 1.0. What is the minimum allowable design base shear V for this structure?

A. 88.0 kips.

B. 115.0 kips.

C. 230.0 kips.

D. 393.0 kips.
 Answer to #14.

B.

CBC Section 1630.2.1 states that the minimum design base shear in a given direction
can be found from Formula 30-6,
V = (0.11) Ca I W

Los Angeles is in zone 4, therefore the computed base shear should not be less than
the base shear obtained from CBC Formula 30-7,
V = (0.8 Z Nr I / R) W

CBC Table 16-Q gives the seismic coefficient Ca = 0.40 Na for the soil profile SB in a
seismic zone 4. Therefore,

Formula 30-6 V = 0.11C a IW = ( 0.11)( 0.40 )(1.0 )(1.0 )( 2 , 000 kips ) = 88 kips
 0.8 ZN r I   0.8 ( 0.4 )(1.0 )(1.0 ) 
Formula 30-7 V =  W =  ( 2 , 000 kips ) = 114.3 kips
 R   5.6 

Since V = 88 kips < 114.3 kips, the latter should be used.

Question #15.

For a structure with a seismic base shear coefficient Cv I / R T = 0.14, what is the
effective spectral acceleration, expressed as a percentage of gravity?

A. 5%

B. 10%

C. 14%

D. 25%
Answer to #15.

C.

W   CV I 
F = ma =   a and V =   W = 0.14W
 g   RT 
but,
W 
F =V ∴   a = 0.14W ∴ a = 0.14 g
 g 
Question #16.

A special moment-resisting steel structure is being designed to a height of 240 feet

(73.2 m) in a seismic zone 4. The site for this building is underlain with very dense
soil and soft rock. The soil-rock strata transmit a shear wave with a velocity of
2,500 ft/sec. Based on the CBC requirements, the value of the ratio Cv / T in
designing the base shear need not exceed which of the following values?

A. 0.56 Nv

B. 0.96 Nv / T

C. 1.92 / T

D. 2.5 Ca
Answer to #16.

D.

CBC Table 16-J shows that the soil profile is an SC for dense soil and soft rock with
an S-wave of 2,500 ft/sec. From CBC Table 16-R the value of the seismic response
coefficient Cv is 0.56 Nv for this same soil. From CBC Table 16-T the maximum value
of the near-source factor Na is 2.0. Therefore, the maximum value of the seismic
response coefficient Cv is,
Cv = 0.56 Nv = (0.56)(2.0) = 1.12

However, CBC Section 1630.2.1 specifies that the total design shear in a given
direction should be determined from the CBC Formula 30-4 and not to exceed CBC
Formula 30-5,
 CV I   2.5C a I 
V =  W and V =   W
 RT   R 
therefore,
 CV I   2.5C a I  CV
 RT  W =  R  W ∴ T = 2.5Ca
   
Question #17.

A building must be designed such that it will not require an additional force Ft at
the roof level (that is, Ft = 0). Assume the maximum possible natural period for
this building. Use R = 5.5, the soil profile is type SA, Z = 0.4 and the near source
factor Nv = 1.2.

What is the design base shear V using CBC Formula 30-4?

A. 0

B. 0.10 I W

C. 1.0 I W

D. 10 I W
Answer to #17.

B.

Given a soil profile of SA, and Z = 0.4, yields a Cv = 0.32 Nv

CBC Section 1630.5, for Ft = 0 the maximum value of T = 0.7 seconds. From Table
16-R, the seismic coefficient Cv is,
Cv = 0.32 Nv = (0.32)(1.2) = 0.384

CBC Formula 30-4,

 CV I   0.384 I 
V =  W =  W = 0.10 IW

 RT   ( 5.5 )( 0.7 ) 
Question #18.

When using CBC Table 16-P, which of the following structures can not use the CBC
Formula Fp = 4.0 Ca Ip Wp ?

A. Penthouses.

B. Water tanks.

C. Braced parapet walls.

D. Roof-mounted equipment.
Answer to #18.

B.

The CBC Table 16-P identifies non-building structures, including water tanks.

CBC Section 1634.1.1 discusses non-building structures, which include all self-
supporting structures other than buildings that carry gravity loads and resist the
effects of lateral forces.

Penthouses, braced parapet walls, and roof-mounted equipment are considered

elements of structures, non-structural components and equipment, and their
attachments. For the latter, CBC Formula 32-1,

Fp = 4.0 Ca Ip Wp

determines the total design lateral seismic force. The value of Ca should be based on
CBC Table 16-Q for the soil profile type. The value of Ip is obtained from Table 16-K.
Question #19.

What are the minimum and maximum values of Rp for the attachments of
permanent equipment supported by a structure?

Note: attachments include anchorages and required bracing.

A. 1.0 and 3.0

B. 1.0 and 1.5

C. 1.5 and 3.0

D. 1.5 and 4.0

Answer to #19.

C.

The attachments for permanent equipment supported by a structure should be

designed to resist the total design seismic forces outlined in CBC Section 1632.2.

In CBC Section 1632.2, Rp is the Component Response Modification Factor. A

value for Rp should be taken from CBC Table 16-O. This table refers to Rp as the
horizontal force factor and lists values varying from 1.5 to 4.0.

For attachments including anchorages and requiring bracing, the maximum value
is 3.0.
Question #20.

An airport control tower, or any tall and slender building such as the monument
shown below, will require what value for R ?

A. 2.0

B. 2.2

C. 2.9

D. 3.6
Answer to #20.

B.

A monument is considered a non-building structure.

For amusement structures and monuments, the R value is 2.2 (use CBC Table 16-P).