Criteria for Earthquake Resistant

design of structures

Important points with reference to soils

and foundation
Seismic
zone

II

III

IV

Seismic
Activity

Low

Moderate

Severe

Very
severe

Zone
factor (z)

0.1

0.16

0.24

0.36

Damping : The effect on internal friction, imperfect elasticity

of material, slipping, sliding etc., in reducing the amplitude of
vibration and is expressed as a percentage of critical
damping.
Design Acceleration Spectrum (DAS) : An average
smoothened plot of maximum acceleration as function of
frequency or time period of vibration for a specified damping
ratio for earthquake excitation at the base of SDOF system.
DBE: it is the earthquake which can reasonably be expected
to occur at least once during the life of the structure.
Design Horizontal Acceleration Coefficient (Ah) :
It is a horizontal acceleration coefficient that
shall be used for design of structures.

Epicenter : The geographical point on the surface of earth vertically above the focus
of the earthquake.
Focus : The originating earthquake source of the elastic waves inside the earth which
cause shaking of ground due to earthquake.
Intensity of Eartthquake : The intensity of an earthquake at a place is a measure of
the strength of shaking during the earthquake, and is indicated by a number
according to the modified Mercalli Scale.

Magnitude of Earthquake ( Richters Magnitude): is a number, which is a measure of

energy released in an earthquake. It is defined as logarithm to the base 10 of the
maximum trace amplitude, expressed in microns, which the standard short-period
torsion seismometer ( with a period of 0.8s, magnification 2800 and damping nearly
critical ) would register due to the earthquake at an epicentral distance of 100 km.

Maximum Considered Earthquake ( MCE ) : The most severe

earthquake effects considered by this standard.

Response Spectrum : The representation of the maximum response

of idealized single degree freedom systems having certain period
and damping, during earthquake ground motion.

The maximum response is plotted against the undamped natural

period and for various damping values, and can be expressed in
terms of maximum absolute acceleration, maximum relative
velocity, or maximum relative displacement.

 Structural Response Factors ( Sa/g ) : It is a factor denoting the

acceleration response spectrum of the structure subjected to earthquake
ground vibrations, and depends on natural period of vibration and
damping of the structure.

Zone Factor (Z) : It is a factor to obtain the design spectrum depending

on the perceived maximum seismic risk characterized by Maximum
Considered Earthquake ( MCE ) in the zone in which the structure is
located. The basic zone factors included in this standard are reasonable
estimate of effective peak ground acceleration.

Zero Period Acceleration ( ZPA ) : It is the value of acceleration response spectrum for period
below 0.03 s ( frequencies above 33 Hz).
Effective Peak Ground Acceleration ( EPGA ) : It is 0.4 times the 5 percent damped average
spectral acceleration between period 0.1 to 0.3 s. This shall be taken as Zero Period
Acceleration ( ZPA ).
When we plan foundation of structures for the earthquake forces , we have you consider
the following :
1.What are base shear for structures design of foundation ?
2.What are the specific recommendations regarding design of foundation in IS:1893(2002)
3.Is the foundation liable to liquefy due to the earthquake?
4.What is the value of the local acceleration to be taken for examine liquefy faction?
5.Is the foundation soil liable to settle?

We first deal with general aspects of earthquake with respect to the

structural design and then with the above problems:
Historical developments of IS :1893(2002-5th revision)

First published in 1962 and the revisied in 1966,1970,1975,

1984,2002 based on uniform building code(UBC)

Philosophy of design of buildings according to IS :1893

The max credible earthquake (MCE) is the absolute maximum which
can be expected to occur in the given site. The value of zone factor(z)
is a reasonable estimate of the effective(PGA)
Complete protection against MCE is not economically advisable for
ordinary buildings. Hence ,assuming that we can depend on both
strength and ductility and also provision of special feature such as
shear walls in design , we accept a lower value of(z) in design.

First aspect
Calculation of base shear by Is 1893(2002)
The value of base shear taken in design of super structure and substructure will be
different from values taken for studying liquefaction .the base shear for
structural design of foundation will be obtained from the lateral force acting
on the superstructure.
IS:1893 recommends the estimation of this base shear by any one of the following
three methods.
1. Equivalent static lateral force method -> simplest and can be used for small to
medium sized buildings
2. Response spectrum method
3. Time history method
Equivalent static lateral force method :
Formulae Vb = Ah W
Where Vb = base shear
Ah = design horizontal seismic coefficient
W = weight of structure

Design Spectrum : For the purpose of determining

seismic forces, the country is classified into four
seismic zones as shown in Fig.
The design horizontal seismic coefficient Ah for a
structure shall be determined by the following
expression:
Ah = (Z/2)(I/R)(Sa/g)
Provided that for any structure with T <0.1 s, the
value of Ah will not be taken less than Z/2 whatever
be the value of I/R

IS1893:2002
Local soil profile reflected through a different design spectrum for Rock , Soil
Normalized for Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) of 1.0
Rocky or hard sites,
1 + 15 T
Sa / g =
2.50
1.00 / T

0.00 T 0.10
0.10 T 0.40
0.40 T 4.00

Medium soil sites

1 + 15 T
Sa / g =
2.50
1.36 / T

0.00 T 0.10
0.10 T 0.55
0.55 T 4.00

Soft soil sites

1 + 15 T
Sa / g =
2.50
1.67 / T

0.00 T 0.10
0.10 T 0.67
0.67 T 4.00

Damping 5%

Damping
percent

10

15

20

25

30

Factors
(new code)

3.2

1.4

1.00

0.90

0.80

0.70

0.60

0.55

0.50

For underground structures and foundations at depths of

30 m or below, the design horizontal acceleration
spectrum value shall be taken as half the value obtained
from the equation for structures and foundations placed
between the ground level and 30m depth, the design
horizontal acceleration spectrum value shall be linearly
interpolated between Ah and 0.5 Ah,
The design acceleration spectrum for vertical motions,
when required, may be taken as two-thirds (2/3) of the
design horizontal acceleration

Response spectra shows the maximum response induced by

the ground motions In damped SDOF structures of different
fundamental periods.

Each structure has a unique fundamental period at which the

structure tends vibrate when it is allowed to vibrate freely
without any external excitation.

The response spectrum shows how a particular structure with

its inherent fundamental period would response to an
earthquake ground motion.

Type of foundations that can be adopted and

increase in SBC;
Isolated footings without connecting beams;

this can be

used in zone II in all soils with N>10,

R.C., footings with connecting tie beams; All footings in
soils with N<10.
Raft foundations ; these foundations are suitable in all cases.
Pile foundations; the piles should rest in good soils N>15.

Liquefaction of soils;
Fraction finer than 0.05mm equal or less than 15%
Liquid limit less than 35%
Natural water content not to be less than 90% of L.L
LI less than 0.75

FS = CRR/CSR
Liquefaction most occurs mostly in fine to
medium sands, with the e more than the
critical void ratio.