Seismic Analysis of a Reinforced Concrete Frame Building Using N2 Method

Abstract

Earthquake as a dynamical loading on the structures, which occurs accidentally has always been an interesting topic to engineers in everyday engineering practice, as well as to researchers and scientists. In order to obtain the best possible seismic response of a structure, it is necessary for a structural engineer to choose and design the structural system correctly. Further, the seismic response of the structure can be obtained using one of the well-known seismic analysis methods. Engineers in practice commonly use less complicated analysis methods to provide the results that are accurate enough for the design requirements. Lateral force method and response spectrum analysis are frequently used seismic analysis methods in practice, whereas researchers prefer time history analysis method or pushover analysis [1, 2]. In this paper we present a practical application of a nonlinear method called N2. This method makes a connection between two seismic analysis procedures: pushover analysis of a multi degree of freedom (MDOF) model and the response spectrum analysis of an equivalent single degree of freedom (SDOF) model. N2 method gives us a possibility to use practical analysis procedures in order to obtain seismic response of a structure. We analyse seismic response of an eight-story reinforced concrete frame building. The design of the analysed structure is carried out fully in accordance with the seismic request and in compliance with the capacity design provisions.