4/24/2018

Guide to the Use of
NSCP 2015, Section 208

EARTHQUAKE LOADS

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WIND AND 
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING: LOADED 1
 4/24/2018

Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design

Example 1 
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design

Given:
Zone 4
Ca = 0.44
I = 1.0
ρ = 1.1
f1 = 0.5

Beam A-B and Column C-D are elements of the special moment-
resisting frame. Structural analysis has provided the following
individual beam moments at A, and the column axial loads and
moments at C due to dead load, office building live load, and
lateral seismic forces.

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WIND AND 
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING: LOADED 2
 4/24/2018

Example 1
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design
Lateral Seismic Load
Dead Load (D) Live Load (L)
(Eh)
Beam Moment at A 135 kN-m 65 kN-m 165 kN-m

Column C-D Axial Load 400 kN 180 kN 490 kN

Column Moment at C 55 kN-m 30 kN-m 220 kN-m

Find the following:

1. Strength design moment at
beam end A.
2. Strength design axial load and
moment at column top C.

Example 1
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design

1. Calculations: Strength design moment at beam end A

a. Determine earthquake load E:
E = ρEh + Ev (208-18)
where: Ev = 0.5 Ca I D
= 0.5 (0.44)(1.0)(135)
= 29.70 kN-m
Eh = 165 kN-m
Hence, E = 1.1 (165) + 29.70
= 211.20 kN-m

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WIND AND 
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING: LOADED 3
 4/24/2018

Example 1
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design
b. Apply earthquake load combinations:
1.2D + 1.0E + f1L (203-19)
0.9D ± 1.0E (203-20)
MA = 1.2MD +1.0ME + f1ML
= 1.2 (135)+1.0 (211.2)+ 0.5 (65)
= 405.7 kN-m
Lateral
MA = 0.9MD ± 1.0ME Dead Live
Seismic
= 0.9 (135) ± 1.0 (211.2) Load Load
Load
(D) (L)
= 332.7 kN-m or -89.7 kN-m (Eh)
Beam
135 65 kN- 165 kN-
Moment
Therefore, MA = 405.7 kN-m or -90 kN-m kN-m m m
at A

Example 1
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design
2. Calculations: Strength design axial load
and moment at column top C
a. Determine earthquake load E:
E = ρEh + Ev (208-18)
where: Ev = 0.5 Ca I D
= 0.5 (0.44)(1.0) D Dead Live Lateral
Load Load Seismic
= 0.22 D (D) (L) Load (Eh)
For axial load: E = ρ Eh + Ev Column C-D
400 kN 180 kN 490 kN
Axial Load
E = 1.1 (490) + 0.22 (400) = 627.0 kN-m Column
30 kN-
For moment: E = ρ Eh + Ev Moment at 55 kN-m 220 kN-m
m
E = 1.1 (220) + 0.22 (55) = 254.1 kN-m C

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WIND AND 
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING: LOADED 4
 4/24/2018

Example 1
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design
b. Apply earthquake load combinations:
1.2D + 1.0E + f1L (203-19)
0.9D ± 1.0E (203-20)
Pc = 1.2D +1.0E + f1L
= 1.2 (400)+1.0 (627.0)+ 0.5 (180.0)
= 1197.0 kN-m
Pc = 0.9D ± 1.0E Dead
Live
Lateral
= 0.9 (400) ± 1.0 (627.0) Load
Load (L)
Seismic
(D) Load (Eh)
= 987.0 kN-m or -267.0 kN-m Column C-D
400 kN 180 kN 490 kN
Axial Load
Hence, Pc = 1197.0 kN-m (compression)
= -267 kN-m (tension)

Example 1
Earthquake Load Combinations: Strength Design

MC = 1.2D +1.0E + f1L

= 1.2 (55)+1.0 (254.1)+ 0.5 (30)
= 335.1 kN-m

MC = 0.9D ± 1.0E
= 0.9 (55) ± 1.0 (254.1) Lateral
Dead Live Load
= 303.6 kN-m or -204.6 kN-m Load (D) (L)
Seismic
Load (Eh)
Column
Hence, MC = 335.1 kN-m Moment at C
55 kN-m 30 kN-m 220 kN-m

= -204.6 kN-m

TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON WIND AND 
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING: LOADED 5