32.5.4 - Importance of Seismic Weight and Importance Factor
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Practice Questions
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What does seismic weight refer to?
💡 Hint: Think about the forces that keep the building grounded.
Define the term importance factor.
💡 Hint: Consider the role of buildings during emergencies.
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Interactive Quizzes
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What is a seismic weight?
💡 Hint: Think about the forces acting on a building during an earthquake.
True or False: Importance factors are used to account for the significance of a structure.
💡 Hint: Consider how emergency services are designed.
1 more question available
Challenge Problems
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A school building has a seismic weight of 350 tons and an importance factor of 1.0. Calculate the base shear and discuss how this changes if it becomes a hospital with an importance factor of 1.5.
💡 Hint: Use the formula: Base Shear = Seismic Weight × Importance Factor.
Discuss the engineering considerations that must be taken for a residential building with low seismic weight and importance factor versus a high-rise commercial building with a high seismic weight and importance factor.
💡 Hint: Compare typical design approaches based on function and size.
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