Concept and Need - 34.11.1 | 34. Design Earthquake | Earthquake Engineering - Vol 3
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Concept and Need

34.11.1 - Concept and Need

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Interactive Audio Lesson

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Introduction to PBSD

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Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Today, we’re discussing Performance-Based Seismic Design, or PBSD. It’s an innovative approach that prioritizes limiting damage rather than merely preventing structural collapse during earthquakes.

Student 1
Student 1

So, does that mean buildings are designed to take some damage but still remain functional?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Exactly! PBSD introduces different earthquake levels. For instance, we consider a Service Level Earthquake, which ensures the building remains operational without extensive damage.

Student 2
Student 2

What about more severe earthquakes?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

For those, we have the Design Basis Earthquake or DBE, where minor damage is acceptable, yet life safety is prioritized. Then, we have the Maximum Considered Earthquake, or MCE, focusing on preventing collapse.

Student 3
Student 3

I see. So essentially, how a building behaves in an earthquake is more important than just making sure it doesn’t fall?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Correct! The goal is to ensure resilience and functionality after seismic activities. To remember this, you might think of PBSD as ‘Preserving Building Safety and Durability.’

Student 4
Student 4

That’s a helpful way to remember it!

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Great! In summary, PBSD emphasizes understanding and mitigating potential damage in conjunction with safety during an earthquake.

Performance Levels

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Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Let’s dive deeper into the performance levels in PBSD. We have three key levels: Operational, Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety, and Collapse Prevention.

Student 1
Student 1

What does each of those mean?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Great question! The Operational level ensures no damage, making buildings suitable for essential functions, like hospitals. Immediate Occupancy allows for minor non-structural damage but is still safe for people to enter.

Student 2
Student 2

And the Life Safety part?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

In this level, the building may experience moderate structural damage, but occupancy is safe. Finally, Collapse Prevention involves severe damage without total failure; it’s critical for life safety.

Student 3
Student 3

That sounds very comprehensive. So how do engineers decide these levels?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

They assess factors like the building’s purpose, occupancy, and location's seismic risks. To remember these levels, think of 'OILC'—Operational, Immediate, Life Safety, Collapse Prevention.

Student 4
Student 4

That's a neat acronym!

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Exactly! This way, you can recall all four performance levels easily. Overall, PBSD encourages a proactive approach to seismic safety.

Design Parameters

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Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Now, let’s look at how different seismic conditions affect the design strategies in PBSD.

Student 1
Student 1

How do those different seismic levels impact the design process?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Each earthquake level uses different parameters during design. For example, during a Service Level Earthquake, structures would be designed with minimal damage responses.

Student 2
Student 2

And for the MCE?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

For MCE, the design focuses on integrity to prevent collapse, meaning materials and structural systems are chosen for maximum stability.

Student 3
Student 3

What kind of analysis do they use for this?

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Engineers conduct nonlinear analyses, utilizing techniques like pushover and time-history. Remember ‘NPT’ for nonlinear performance techniques!

Student 4
Student 4

That’s a good way to remember it!

Teacher
Teacher Instructor

Definitely! By integrating these analyses into design practices, engineers can create structures that are both efficient and resilient against earthquakes.

Introduction & Overview

Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.

Quick Overview

Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) focuses on limiting damage during earthquakes rather than preventing collapse.

Standard

This section introduces PBSD as a transformative approach in earthquake-resistant design, emphasizing the design of buildings not just for structural safety but also for minimizing damage during various seismic events. It outlines the need for PBSD by considering different earthquake levels and performance criteria, highlighting its advantages over traditional design methods.

Detailed

Concept and Need

Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) is a modern approach aimed at improving safety and functionality of structures during seismic events. Instead of focusing solely on preventing collapse, PBSD seeks to limit damage to buildings based on several predefined performance levels. This contrasts with traditional methods that primarily enforce standards for structural integrity under maximum earthquake conditions.

In PBSD, designs are developed considering three key earthquake levels:

  1. Service Level Earthquake (SLE): Addresses operational requirements ensuring structures can continue to function without significant damage.
  2. Design Basis Earthquake (DBE): Targets life safety, wherein structures must withstand moderate damage yet remain safe for occupants.
  3. Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE): Focuses on collapse prevention, dictating that buildings endure severe conditions without failing completely.

The importance of PBSD lies in its ability to adapt to various seismic intensities, promoting not only compliance with safety regulations but also the sustainability and resilience of buildings in the face of natural disasters.

Audio Book

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Introduction to Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD)

Chapter 1 of 2

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Chapter Content

PBSD aims to design buildings not just to prevent collapse but to limit damage under various levels of seismic intensity.

Detailed Explanation

Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) is a modern approach to designing buildings that takes into account not only the safety of structures during earthquakes but also focuses on minimizing the damage. Traditional designs often prioritize preventing total collapse during extreme earthquakes; however, PBSD recognizes that serious earthquakes can cause varying degrees of damage. It aims to create buildings that can withstand different levels of seismic activity without extensive damage, ensuring that the buildings remain usable after an earthquake.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a PBSD building like a well-built bridge. In normal traffic, it functions smoothly and effectively. However, during a heavy storm, instead of collapsing entirely, it might sway but remain operational for vehicles—allowing them to safely cross while minimizing infrastructure damage.

Limitations of Traditional Design Approaches

Chapter 2 of 2

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Chapter Content

Goes beyond traditional force-based design by incorporating deformation and damage states.

Detailed Explanation

Traditional seismic design often relies on force-based methods, which apply predetermined forces to the structure based on expected seismic activity. However, these approaches can overlook how buildings behave during actual earthquakes, particularly their deformations (how much they bend or sway) and the associated damage states. PBSD advances this concept by assessing and analyzing how structures will deform and the degree of damage they might experience during various earthquake scenarios. This helps engineers create more accurate models of building performance and enhance overall safety.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine trying to stretch a rubber band without knowing how much it can actually stretch before snapping. A traditional approach only considers the force required, while PBSD examines how far the rubber band can safely stretch and what happens if it's stretched too much—allowing engineers to design better safety measures.

Key Concepts

  • Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD): An approach focusing on limiting building damage during earthquakes.

  • Performance Levels: Categories of building performance during seismic events.

  • Nonlinear Analysis: Evaluative method for structural behavior under extreme seismic loads.

Examples & Applications

Designing a hospital to remain operational after a moderate earthquake, ensuring no structural damage.

Creating residential buildings that can withstand significant earthquakes without collapsing, focusing on life safety.

Memory Aids

Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts

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Rhymes

PBSD is key, to limit all damage you see!

📖

Stories

Imagine a hospital that stands firm during a quake, providing care while the world shakes around it. That's PBSD in action!

🧠

Memory Tools

Remember 'OILC' for the performance levels: Operational, Immediate, Life Safety, and Collapse Prevention.

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Acronyms

PBSD

Performance-Based Seismic Design—Focusing on Building Safety and Durability.

Flash Cards

Glossary

PerformanceBased Seismic Design (PBSD)

An approach to designing buildings to limit damage during earthquakes rather than solely preventing collapse.

Service Level Earthquake (SLE)

A condition where buildings are designed to remain operational with no significant damage.

Design Basis Earthquake (DBE)

The level of ground motion for which buildings are designed to remain safe and functional with limited damage.

Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE)

The maximum seismic event anticipated, focusing on preventing collapse of structures.

Performance Levels

Categories defining acceptable damage and safety for structures during seismic events.

Nonlinear Analysis

Method for evaluating a structure's behavior beyond elastic limits under seismic forces.

Reference links

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