National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)

Department of Civil Engineering

Master Thesis Proposal

Date: 29.07.2020

Author: Ali Syed Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Syed Ali Rizwan

E-mail: smaaha7@gmail.com E-mail: syedalirizwan@hotmail.co
m
Phone: 03124455327 Phone: 03344255188
Specialization: Structural Engineering Co-Supervisor
(if any):

Proposed Topic:

Analysis of irregular buildings

Registered in MS Thesis - I: Yes Date of Registration: 03.03.2020

Background:
The exponential world population growth in the last century and a quarter has prompted
architects and engineers to create taller and larger structures in densely populated localities
to fulfill the residential or commercial demands of public. But in the real world, tall massive
buildings also become subject to substantial dynamic lateral loads unlike smaller single-use
structures. These dynamic loads occur naturally in form of environmental loads such as wind,
waves and earthquakes and cannot be neglected during planning, designing or analyzing a
sizable construction project. The biggest challenge for any structural engineer today is to
design structures that can adequately withstand all probable vertical and lateral loads during
its service life without sustaining any considerable damage.
A regular building has its mass and stiffness uniformly distributed through its height and width
and behaves normally. However, irregular buildings are also present due to limitations such
as irregular construction base area, architectural preferences, changes in storey stiffness,
traditional architectural features projecting at facades and geographical conditions. The
occurrence of a vertically or horizontally irregular frame that is subject to devastating lateral
loads is a matter of concern and hence for the design of safe irregular buildings, it is
necessary to study the effect of the irregularity on the response of buildings to lateral loads.
This study aims to analyze and further the research on modern structure stabilization
techniques being employed all over the world.

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

Literature Review:

K.Tempa et.al observed that, in addition to how the earthquake forces are carried into the
ground, the behavior of any building during an earthquake depends on its overall size, shape
and geometry, This study focused on studying the seismic behavior of irregular structures
and an attempt was made to assess the adequacy of several seismic analysis procedures
for irregular buildings. For irregular buildings, international codes of practice recommend
complete dynamic analysis using time-history method or a response-spectrum method for
seismic design. STAAD Pro software was used for the modal analysis of 4 different irregular
structures and found that 3D analysis of structures yielded more accurate and much higher
maximum displacements than 2D analysis and very high base shear. This meant that 2D
seismic analysis alone could lead to underestimation and may result in catastrophe [1].
Similar research work was also carried by D. Patel et.al. on the earth quake effects [2] using
ETABS software and considered two types of discontinuities, diaphragm and re-entrant
corner discontinuity. The various parameters like storey displacement, storey drift, torsional
displacement and height to weight ratio were considered for comparison. it was observed
that torsional displacement was absent in doubly symmetrical structures and the value of
displacement and drift decrease as the height-weight ratio of a building increases.

The earthquake effects that can damage a structure can also be measured by equivalent
static technique along with response spectrum technique. These techniques allow us to
predict the structural performance under seismic load before execution phase. Lateral loads
were calculated using STAAD Pro software in Zones II-V while dynamic analysis of the
structure was done using response spectrum method. It was established that vibrations in
irregular structures had greater time period of vibrations [3]. A G+10 vertically irregular RCC
building was modelled as a simplified lump mass model for the analysis of vertical geometric
irregularity and response parameters like story deflection, story drift and story shear of
structure under seismic force were studies by linear static & dynamic analysis were studied.
Soft computing tools as well as ETABS was used for modeling and analysis. It was found
that building structure with stiffness irregularity provides instability and attracts huge storey
shear [4]. However, proportionate amount of stiffness is advantageous to control storey and
base shear. It was also observed that irregular buildings underwent greater displacements
and had a higher time period that regular structures of comparable heights [5].

F.Bargallo et al. asserted that non-linear static analysis on its own would ignore the effects
of torsional response in the building [6] and being derived as a result of invariant loading

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

patterns, it is unable to account for dynamic response as well [7] and these factors can modify
its displacement demand during its service life i.e. displacement demand increases at the
flexible side of building and vice versa. Though usually very simple to employ, Non-linear
static analyses may not adequately predict the seismic demand for buildings having elevation
irregularities and a considerable height [7]. In this work, the ratio of the maximum
displacements of the asymmetric system to the maximum displacement of the corresponding
planar system is determined for a large set of single storey systems. The results of this
investigation were used to populate a database for the assessment of buildings. S Mehana
et al. [8] studied the effects of torsional response in structural systems and concluded that
displacement values are not responsive to the increment in eccentricity ratio, in other words,
the structure exhibits planar frame behavior and the deformations are mainly transitional
rather than torsional. This work also highlighted the significance of utilizing the frequency
ratio Ω to control the torsional behavior of building structures.

Analysis of regular and irregular buildings with 4 different configurations of shear wall
provisions in storeys was carried out by Suruchi M. et al. and predicted that shear walls were
effective in reduction of displacements, even more so in irregular structures [9]. The
concurrence of irregularities in both the vertical and horizontal direction can be very
dangerous and so, assigning dilatations i.e. discontinuities are sometimes provided to divide
an irregular structure into multiple regular structures by provision of double columns or
console beams at dilatation boundaries [10]. Higher period, displacement and drift were
observed for the double column systems and so, from behavioral parameters, it strongly
evaluated the performance of double column systems to be less than that of console beams
in irregular buildings under earthquake vibrations [11].

Vertical seismic isolation is also a well-known seismic strengthening method and base-
isolation (BI) is a technique that has been employed all over the world to safeguard the
structures from the detrimental effects of earthquakes. The installation of isolator in buildings
at base level considerably increases the time period of the structure which implies reduction
in the possibility of resonance of the structure giving rise to better overall seismic
performance of the building [12]. The mid-story isolation design method is recently gaining
popularity for the seismic protective design of buildings located in densely populated
localities i.e. providing isolation at middle storeys. It is yet a less explored strengthening
measure compared to the popular base-isolation method. Anisha G et al. presented the time-
history analysis of a regular and a stiffness-irregular G+20 storey building and its seismic
responses with isolators installed at intermediate storeys rather than at the base and

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

SAP2000 was used for the analysis. It has many advantages over the base isolation method
in terms of efficiency of construction, space use, cost, maintenance etc. [13]. The results also
asserted that the inherent mass and stiffness of the substructure are of greater consequence
than the modifications of superstructure in altering the dynamic characteristics of an isolated
building.

The impact of irregularity on the global response of bare frame structures that were subjected
to blast loading was studied by P Singh et al. [14]. The structures were modelled and
analyzed using the STAAD Pro software utilizing the Time-History method of analysis with
relation of time-force which presents the dynamic response of the structure over time during
and after the full-time history of structure’s response. Nodal displacement of all storeys was
analyzed to assess the response of regular and vertically irregular structures under extreme
blast loading conditions. It concluded that the irregular RCC bare frame provides lesser level
of resistance against blast loading than a regular frame but interestingly, the damage was
much less considerable if the blast was carried on the re-entrant side at almost the same
distance.

J. Kim et al. analyzed the progressive collapse-resisting capacities of twisted or tilted

buildings by nonlinear static and dynamic analyses. For analysis models, 30-storey tilted
buildings with braced cores and 30-storey twisted buildings with reinforced concrete cores
were designed, and their performances were compared with those of the regular buildings.
It was observed that the progressive collapse potential of the tilted structures varied
significantly and depended on the location of the removed columns and the plastic hinges
formed not only in the bays from which a column was removed, but also in the adjacent bays
[15]. Similar results were also observed in the analysis of the twisted structures. The
progressive collapse potential of the tilted structure was high when the column was removed
from the tilted side. However, the twisted structures considered in this study had progressive
collapse potentials not very large compared with those of the corresponding regular
structures due to presence of more structural elements involved in resisting progressive
collapse when a structural member was eliminated.

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

Objectives/Hypotheses:
Through my hypotheses I will focus on the following
Hypothesis #1: How much shear walls affect torsional response in structures?
Hypothesis #2: Can different arrangements of similar total cross-sectional areas of shear
walls produce considerably different response?
Hypothesis #3: Base or mid storey isolation. Which is suitable and when?
Hypothesis #4: Most suitable solution to increase earthquake resistance in irregular
structures?
Hypothesis #5: Effects on changing strength, density or other properties of concrete on the
response spectra?
Hypothesis #6: Best configuration strategies for console beams and double columns in a
discontinuous structure.

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

Methodology:

Outline:

Chapter 1 Introduction This chapter includes introduction to irregular structures, their

existence, and the need for research on them.

Chapter 2 Literature Review Second chapter of the thesis discusses contemporary

research on irregular structures, their results, observations and the conclusions obtained by
researchers, duly supported by suitable references.

Chapter 3 Methodology In this chapter methodology to carry out analysis on irregular

structures using STAAD Pro, ETABS or REVIT will be defined. Comparison with manual
calculations will also be carried out if possible and relevant. Different models will be tested
with altered structural configurations and loads. Analysis will be carried out on both
symmetrical and unsymmetrical irregularities to include torsional response as well.

Chapter 4 Results and Discussion This chapter includes all the results obtained from
different models and different analyses. Results and discussion will be presented in great
detail with adequate reasoning and explanation of results obtained.

Chapter 5 Conclusion and Recommendations

This part of the thesis contains summary of the research work. Recommendations and
conclusions will be published in this chapter.

Time-Frame:

Month Activity Duration (Months)

Jun-20 Literature review 1
Jul-20 Proposal formulation 1
Aug-20 Further study and consolidation of concepts 1
Sep-20 Establishment of suitable test configurations 1
Oct-20 Analyses by ETABS, REVIT and manual if possible 1
Nov-20 report write up 1
Dec-20 final submission 1

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

References/Bibliography

[1] K. Tempa, Kintu, N.Dorji, and Ugyen D., “3D Seismic Analysis of Irregular Buildings
using STAAD.Pro” (IJIRSET), Vol. 8, Issue 9, Sep. 2019

[2] D.patel, P.Suthar, and B.Soni , “Comparison of Regular and Irregular Building
Considering Irregularity Using ETABS”, Feb. 2020

[3] R. Kumar, Ranga. R, “Comparative study on regular & irregular structures using
equivalent static and response spectrum methods” (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 1, pp. 615–
622, Jan. 2017

[4] S.A. Aijaj, U. Salik, “Seismic analysis of vertically irregular buildings” CURRENT
SCIENCE, VOL. 111, NO. 10, Nov. 2016

[5] B. S. Taranath, Wind and earthquake resistant buildings, pp 317-322, 2005

[6] F. Barbagallo, M. Bosco, A. Ghersi and E. M. Marino “A database for assisted

assessment of torsional response of in-plan irregular buildings” (2020)
(Book: Seismic Behavior and Design of Irregular and Complex Civil Structures III)

[7] “Assessment of Nonlinear Static Analyses on Irregular Building Structures” (book:

Seismic Behavior and Design of Irregular and Complex Civil Structures III), 2020

[8] S. Mehana, A. Mohamed, F. Isam, “Torsional Behavior of Irregular Buildings with Single
Eccentricity” IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering, Sep. 2019

[9] Suruchi. M, Rizwanullah, “Comparative Analysis of Regular and Irregular Buildings with
and Without Shear Wall” (IJRSI), Volume IV, Issue VS, May 2017 | ISSN 2321–2705

[10] R. Aprilin, A. Fajari, “Improving seismic behavior of irregular building through double
column and console beam application” MATEC Web of Conferences SCESCM, 2018

[11] R. Aprilin, A. Fajari, “Seismic Performance of Disjointed Horizontally Irregular Building

by Remodeling the Column and Beam” E3S Web of Conferences 65, 08004, ICCEE, 2018

[12] O. Sonawane, S.B. Walzade, “Effect of Base Isolation in Multistoried RC Regular and
Irregular Building using Time History Analysis” (IJOER), Vol-4, Issue-5, May 2018

[13] Anisha G., M. Kuriakose, “Effect of Mid-Storey Isolation in Regular and Stiffness
Irregular Buildings”, Proceedings of SECON'19, Structural Engineering and Construction
Management, 2019

[14] P. Singh, A. Tiwary, “Analysis of vertical irregular building under blast loading”,
(IJCIET), Volume 9, Issue.8, pp. 522-529, Aug. 2018

[15] J. Kim, S. Hong, “Progressive collapse performance of irregular buildings”, The

Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings 20(6), pp:721 – 734, Oct. 2011

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 National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences (FAST-NU)
Department of Civil Engineering

________________________
(Author’s Signature)

Approval:

The Graduate Studies Committee in its meeting held on ___________ approved the MS

research proposal of ___________________ titled “___________________________”.

Graduate Studies Committee Members:

Sr. Name Signatures

1. Dr. Javaid Ahmad (HOD) ________________________

2. Dr. Shahid Ali ________________________

3. Dr. Mansoor Ahmed ________________________

4. Dr. Mubashir Aziz ________________________

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