Design for forces induced by seismic torsion

Eccentricities between the centres of rigidity and centres of mass in a building cause torsional motion during an earthquake. Seismic torsion leads to increased displacement at the extremes of the building and may cause distress in the lateral load-resisting elements located at the edges, particularly in buildings that are torsionally flexible. For an equivalent static load method of design against torsion, the 1995 National Building Code of Canada specifies values of the eccentricity of points through which the inertia forces of an earthquake should be applied. In general, the code requirements are quite conservative. They do not place any restriction on the torsional flexibility, however. New proposals for 2005 edition of the code which simplify the design eccentricity expressions and remove some of the unnecessary conservatism are described. The new proposals will require that a dynamic analysis method of design be used when the torsional flexibility of the building is large. Results of analytical studies, which show that the new proposals would lead to satisfactory design, are presented.Key words: torsional response to earthquake, natural torsion, accidental torsion, design for torsion, National Building Code of Canada, interdependence of strength and stiffness.