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Modeling techniques
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Accidental eccentricity
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Accidental eccentricity
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Added by Mike Abell, last edited by Truly Guzman on Sep 25, 2014 (view change)

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Accidental eccentricity is automatically included during response-spectrum analysis in

ETABS, though equivalent static-load procedures are also available for manual evaluation.
Note that floor diaphragms must be rigid, otherwise torsional effects are not substantial.

Manual implementation
Two basic approaches which enable the manual formulation of accidental eccentricity are
described as follows:
1. Shift the center of mass for each rigid floor diaphragm by the distance required by
code or specification. Building code often takes this distance to be a fraction of
maximum story dimension, typically 5% or 10%, depending on regional standards.
Center of mass may shift along either direction and along either lateral axis. Each of
these changes in structural configuration also changes the global stiffness matrix,
modal parameters, and dynamic properties of the structure. Therefore, separate
static analyses must be conducted for each eccentricity considered.
For each direction of eccentricity, the lateral static load pattern is then applied to the
shifted center of mass to generate accidental torsional loading. These results may
then be enveloped to obtain a maximum condition. Static torsional response is then
combined with the results of dynamic analyses to produce design forces which
account for accidental eccentricity.
2. The second approach is to apply, anywhere within each story level, a torsional load
which approximates the effect of accidental eccentricity. Resultant static response
measures are then combined with those of dynamic analysis.
Fahjan et al. proposes an alternative procedure which utilizes modal superposition
by modifying global force vectors to include the effect of accidental torsion within
each separate mode shape.

ETABS implementation
ETABS implements an efficient and practical approach while formulating dynamic
response from accidental eccentricity. After the response-spectrum load case is run, the X
and Y acceleration at each joint location is determined, then multiplied by the tributary
mass and the diaphragm eccentricity along either Y or X. The larger absolute value of these
resultant moments (m*Xacc*dY or m*Yacc*dX) is then applied as torsion about the joint
location. Static response is then added to response-spectrum output to account for the
additional design forces caused by accidental eccentricity. Also, when setting eccentricity
ratio on response spectrum case, only one positive value is required, since results will
include envelopes of positive and negative responses.

Reasons for considering accidental

eccentricity
A few reasons for the inclusion of accidental torsion within building-code requirements for
both regular and irregular structures include the following:

Torsional ground motion possibly subjecting the structure to rotation about the
vertical axis.

Uneven distribution of live-load mass during lateral loading.

Variation between computed and actual values of structural properties.

References

Fahjan, Y., Tuzun, C., Kubin, J. (2006). An Alternative Procedure for Accidental
Eccentricity in Dynamic Modal Analyses of Buildings. First European Conference
on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, 1166.