Seismic performance evaluation of reinforced concrete building frame with vertical and plan irregularity

Abstract

Buildings with single or multiple irregularities are highly vulnerable to seismic events. However, there are large number of existing buildings and new constructions with multiple irregularities both in the urban as well as rural areas of developing countries. Earlier earthquake events have demonstrated the failure patterns of the irregular reinforced concrete buildings. In the literature, only few experimental investigations have been reported on the reinforced concrete buildings with multiple irregularities. Hence an experimental investigation is carried out to study the seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete buildings with vertical and plan irregularity by conducting shake table test. The dynamic characteristics of the model building are evaluated. Based on the experimental results, the seismic behaviour of the building with multiple irregularities is studied and the code provisions as per IS1893 on the above irregularities are reviewed. The half-scale model reinforced concrete building is subjected to increasing magnitude of seismic input IS 1893 soft soil earthquake spectrum and the dynamic responses of strain, acceleration, and displacements are analysed and discussed along with the failure modes of the building frame with plan and vertical irregularity in this paper.