Evaluation of the effects of spectrum-compatible seismic excitations on the response of medium-height reinforced concrete frame buildings

Spectrum-compatible seismic excitations are required when dynamic time-history analysis is used for determining the response of a structure. This paper presents results from a study on the effects of different types of spectrum-compatible excitations on the response of medium-height reinforced concrete frame buildings. Two six-storey buildings designed for Vancouver and a five-storey building designed for Montréal were used in the study. Nonlinear time-history analyses were conducted by subjecting the buildings to selected ensembles of spectrum-compatible excitations (i.e., accelerograms). The ensembles used in the study included spectrum-compatible artificial accelerograms, simulated stochastic accelerograms, and recorded earthquake accelerograms (i.e., real accelerograms) scaled to the design spectrum ordinate at the fundamental building period and to the area under the design spectrum within the predominant period range of the building. The responses of the buildings resulting from spectrum-compatible artificial accelerograms and those from scaled real accelerograms were found to be quite similar. Based on the results of this study, the scaling of real accelerograms to spectral area is preferred for obtaining spectrum-compatible accelerograms.Key words: seismic, excitation, response, spectrum, accelerogram, building, drift, curvature, ductility.