NATIONAL CONSERVATORY OF ARTS AND CRAFTS

PUBLIC WORKS AND BUILDING CHAIR

___________

BTP135 - Earthquake Engineering

Chapter 5

Lateral force method

Eurocode 8

Teacher: Joseph PAIS 2020-2021

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Summary
5. SIMPLIFIED METHOD - LATERAL FORCES (§4.3.3.2 EC8) .................................... ................................. 3

INTRODUCTION ................................................. .................................................. ................................................3

VSBASIC MODE APPROACHES [§4.3.3.2.2 (3)] ........................................ .................................... 4
ESHARP FORT AT THE BASE OF THE STRUCTURE [§ 4.3.3.2.2 (1) EC8] ....................................... ...................... 5
DISTRIBUTION OF HORIZONTAL SEISMIC FORCES BY LEVEL [§ 4.3.3.2.3 EC8] .......................................... 6
DISTRIBUTION OF HORIZONTAL SEISMIC FORCES AND THE EFFECTS OF TORSION [§4.3.3.2.4] .............................. 7
VSTRAVEL CALCULATION [§ 4.3.4] ............................................. .................................................. ................ 9
EXERCICE 1 - ESTUDY D'A FRAME ................................................ .................................................. ..........10
5.7.1. Determination of modal masses .............................................. .................................................. ......... 11
5.7.2. Behavior coefficient ............................................... .................................................. ................... 12
5.7.3. Fundamental period of the building. .................................................. .................................................. ...... 12
5.7.4. Horizontal spectral acceleration. .................................................. .................................................. ....... 13
5.7.5. Shearing force at the base of the building ........................................... .................................................. ......... 14
5.7.6. Distribution of horizontal force by level. .................................................. ........................................... 14
5.7.7. Horizontal movements by level .............................................. .................................................. ...... 15
EXERCICE 2 - BOFFICE FACILITIES ............................................... .................................................. .............16
5.8.1. Determination of total masses per level ............................................ .............................................. 19
5.8.2. Behavior coefficients in both directions ........................................... ................................ 20
5.8.3. Fundamental periods in both directions ............................................ ........................................ 20
5.8.4. Spectral accelerations ................................................ .................................................. ......................... 21
5.8.5. Shear force at the base ............................................. .................................................. ........................... 21
5.8.6. Horizontal force by level .............................................. .................................................. ....................... 22
5.8.7. Force by veil / torsion ............................................. .................................................. .............................. 22

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5. Simplified method - Lateral forces (§4.3.3.2 EC8)

Introduction

For buildings that fall into the category of regular buildings, the simplified method by lateral forces can be used and makes it
possible to determine the equivalent static forces applied to the building from the regulatory spectrum:

• Total horizontal force in feet of the building.

• Distribution of forces on each floor according to the masses and the height of the latter.

This method considers that the fundamental mode in each horizontal principal direction takes almost all the masses of the
building and that in this case there is no need to make a complete modal calculation.

We recall that the EC8 define two types of building that can be calculated by the method of lateral forces:

• Buildings meeting the criteria of regularity in plan and elevation. In this case, it is possible to model the structure
by two plane models corresponding to the main directions of stiffness of the building.

• Buildings meeting the sole criterion of regularity in elevation. In this case, a spatial model of the building must be
performed. However, it is also possible to model the building in two plane models corresponding to the main
directions of stiffness provided that:
o The height of the building must not exceed 10 m (H <10 m)
o The building must have facade elements and partitions well distributed and relatively
rigid.

In the case where the period of the fundamental mode T1 (defined below) in each major direction was greater than the
minimum of (4.Tvs ; 2.0 s), the simplified method could not be used. In this case, a complete modal analysis would have to be
done.

We must therefore have: T1   min (4.Tvs ; 2.0 s) with Tc given previously as a function of the soil class and the seismicity
zone, taken from the following table (seen in the previous chapter):

Values of the parameters describing the elastic response spectra - horizontal direction
Type 1 (strong seismicity) Type 2 (low seismicity) For
Class
For seismicity zone 5 seismicity zone 1 to 4
of ground
S TB TVS TD S TB TVS TD
AT 1.00 0.15 0.40 2.00 1.00 0.03 0.20 2.50
B 1.20 0.15 0.50 2.00 1.35 0.05 0.25 2.50
VS 1.15 0.20 0.60 2.00 1.50 0.06 0.40 2.00
D 1.35 0.20 0.80 2.00 1.60 0.10 0.60 1.50
E 1.40 0.15 0.50 2.00 1.80 0.08 0.45 1.25

The condition min (4.Tvs ; 2.0 s) gives the following values depending on the type of spectrum:
Class Type 1 Type 2

AT 1.6 s 0.8 s

B 2.0 s 1.0 sec

VS 2.0 s 1.6 s

D 2.0 s 2.0 s

E 2.0 s 2.0 s

We will detail this method step by step by illustrating each of these steps with a digital application.

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Approximate calculations of the fundamental mode [§4.3.3.2.2 (3)]

For buildings up to 40 m in height, the fundamental period is given by the expression:

T1= VSt.H 3/4

with Ct equal to :

Type of bracing Steel space VSt

1.6
frames Concrete space frames 0.085 steel gantry
Other structures 0.075 1.4 concrete gantry
0.050
other
1.2

0.8
Ct

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40

building height in m

In the case of a building braced by concrete or masonry walls, the value of Ct is taken equal to
VSt = 0.075 / ATvs

With
•    = ∑ [  . (0.2 + (    / )2)] (Corrigendum AC of July 2009)

and
• Ac: Total effective area of the sections of the bracing walls at 1er building level in m² Ai: Effective area of the
• cross section of wall i
• lwi: length of wall i to 1er level in the direction parallel to the forces applied in m under the condition that lwi /H
<0.9

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Digital application - Case of a 6-storey building:

Calculation of the two fundamental periods in X and Y of the building braced by reinforced concrete walls including the
structural plan of 1er level is as follows:

V2 Iw2 =4m
Category II building on Class B ground
V5
Iw5 = 3.5m Y
Height of the 6-storey building of 2.7 m
Either H = 16.2 m
V1 Iw1 = 8m X V4
Iw4 = Sails 5 and 6 have a direction with respect to Ox
45 °

All the sails have a thickness Ai of

V6 0.20m
Iw6 = 3.5m
V3 Iw3 =4m

0.075= 0.075= 0.0625

According to X:    =
√   √1.4404
 1 = 0.0625 × 16.20.75 = 0.505 

According to Y:  =
  0.075= 0.075= 0.0886
√   √0.7173
 1 = 0.0886 × 16.20.75 = 0.715 

Shearing force at the base of the structure [§ 4.3.3.2.2 (1) EC8]

The shear force at the base is given by the formula:

Fb = Sd (T) .m. 

with:
• Sd (T): value of the calculation spectrum for the period T1
• m: total mass of the building
• λ: correction coefficient whose value is equal to:
o λ = 0.85 if T1 ≤ 2 Tvs and the building has more than 2 floors
o λ = 1.0 other cases

It is therefore an equivalent static load which is applied in feet of the structure.

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Digital Application :

The building of example 1 is considered to rest on a class B ground. Only the type 1 spectrum will be used for the example
(spectrum corresponding to DOMT-TOM).

The masses of the 6 stages are identical and equal to 150 t, the total mass is therefore 6 * 150 = 900 t

For this example, we fix ag = 2.5 and q = 3

Depreciation is assumed to be 5%

In X
• T1 = 0.505 s, the period is between Tvs and Td, the value of Sd (T) is therefore equal to:

•    ( ) = 2.5 × 1.2 × 2.5× [ 0.50] = 2.4772  /  ²

3 0.505

• We check that    ( ) = 2.4772>  .    = 0.2 × 2.5 = 0.5

• The value of the shear force at the base is equal to:
o Fb = Sd (T) .m.  = 2.4772. 900. 0.85 = 1895 kN

In Y
• T1 = 0.715 s, the period is between Tvs and Td, the value of Sd (T) is therefore equal to:

•    ( ) = 2.5 × 1.2 × 2.5× [ 0.50] = 1.7481  /  ²

3 0.715

• We check that    ( ) = 1.48>  .    = 0.5

• The value of the shear force at the base is equal to:
o Fb = Sd (T) .m.  = 1.7481. 900. 0.85 = 1337.27 kN

Distribution of horizontal seismic forces by level [§ 4.3.3.2.3 EC8]

The horizontal forces at each storey can be determined by the following expression:
z i.m i
Fi = Fb.
  z j.mj

They are then distributed in the bracing elements in proportion to their rigidities (see numerical application below).

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Digital Application :

Let's take the case of the 6-storey building:

According to X we find:

Calculation according to X
541
Fb = 1,895.03
floor zi mid zi.mi Fi 451
1 2.7 150 405 90.24
2 5.4 150 810 180.48 360
3 8.1 150 1215 270.72 271
4 10.8 150 1620 360.96
180
5 13.5 150 2025 451.20
6 16.2 150 2430 541.44 90
Sum 8505 1895.03

According to Y we find:

Calculation according to Y

Fb = 1337.27 382

floor zi mid zi.mi Fi 318

1 2.7 150 405 63.68
254
2 5.4 150 810 127.36
3 8.1 150 1215 191.04 191
4 10.8 150 1620 254.72 127
5 13.5 150 2025 318.40
63
6 16.2 150 2430 382.08
Sum 8505 1337.27

Distribution of horizontal seismic forces and effects of torsion [§4.3.3.2.4]

At each level, the static forces are distributed in the bracing elements in proportion to their rigidities. But, if no precise
method is used to take into account the effects of torsion, these static forces must be increased by a coefficient δ such
as:
x
  =1+ 0.6
Le
With
• x: distance in plan of the element considered to the center of mass of the building measured perpendicular to the
direction of the earthquake considered
• Le: distance between the two extreme bracing elements, measured perpendicular to the direction of the
earthquake considered

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Digital Application :

Let us take the previous building and carry out the distribution of the shearing force at the level of the embedding:

By taking into account the effects of torsion, these shearing forces must be increased by the coef δ.

We have the following values of x and Le:

And we find the following increased values:

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Calculation of displacements [§ 4.3.4]

The evaluation of the modal deformation of the fundamental mode can be approximated under a linear shape in the following
form: di = zi / H with zi = height of floor i

d4 = 1.00

d3 = 0.75

d2 = 0.50 Example of the shape of the modal deformation of a 4-storey building

of identical height

d1 = 0.25

It is possible to find the displacements due to the computational seismic action from the simplified method:
2
zi.mi   T  
de = S d(T). . .   
  z j.m j   2   

Displacements to be taken into account must be calculated without taking into account the coefficient of behavior, one thus

applies the following formula: ds = qde

Then these “ds” movements must meet the safety conditions defined in 9.2.

Digital Application :

We calculate the displacements in X and Y of our building by taking the previous assumptions:

Maximum displacements and relative displacements according to X:

Movecementsaccording to X
T= 0.505 Sd (T) = 2.48
floor zi mid zi.mi ds (cm) dr (cm)
1 2.7 150 405 0.1940
2 5.4 150 810 0.3880 0.1940
3 8.1 150 1215 0.5820 0.1940
4 10.8 150 1620 0.7760 0.1940
5 13.5 150 2025 0.9701 0.1940
6 16.2 150 2430 1.1641 0.1940
Sum 8505

Maximum displacements and relative displacements according to Y:

Displacements along Y
T = 0.715 Sd (T) = 1.55
floor zi mid zi.mi ds dr
1 2.7 150 405 0.2749
2 5.4 150 810 0.5499 0.2749
3 8.1 150 1215 0.8248 0.2749
4 10.8 150 1620 1.0997 0.2749
5 13.5 150 2025 1.3746 0.2749
6 16.2 150 2430 1.6496 0.2749
Sum 8505

The maximum displacements in X are 1.16 cm and in Y are 1.65 cm. The maximum relative displacement is 0.27cm.

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Exercise 1 - Study of a framework

The objective is to study the bracing by frame (embedded portico) of a reinforced concrete building for office use with a height
of 13.50 m including a ground floor of 3.50 m high, 2 intermediate floors of 3.00 m
in height and a top floor of 4.

Node 4 Stage 3: G = 35T Q = 5T

4.00m

Node 3 Stage 3: G = 50T Q = 25T

3.00m

Node 2 Stage 2: G = 50T Q = 25T

3.00m

Node 1 DRC: G = 75T Q = 35T

3.50m

5.95m 6.15m

Bracing is provided by BA gantries spaced regularly. The width of the building is 12.10 m, with two spans of 5.95m and 6.15m
between axes.

The concentrated masses indicated above take into account the self-weight of the structure.

The element sections are as follows:

▪ Post section: 40 * 40 cm²
▪ Section of beams (width, height): 30 * 75 cm²

Seismic characteristics of the building:

▪ Soil class B
▪ Importance category II
▪ Topography ST = 1
▪ DCM medium ductility structure - Framing Stages
▪ with independent occupations
▪ Buildings with fragile non-structural elements linked to the structure Inaccessible
▪ roof of category H overloads (Eurocode 1) =>  2 = 0

For this study, we consider an EC8 spectrum (characteristics below) with a nominal acceleration
atgR =2.50m / s²:

The material is Concrete with a modulus E = 35000 MPa and a damping percentage of 4%

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Applying the simplified lateral force method of the EC8, please answer the following questions:

1. Determine for each level, in accordance with EC8, the total masses from the values of the statement:

➢ The ground floor and the floors are considered independent occupancy as indicated in the statement.
➢ The last level is considered an inaccessible category H roof.

2. Determine the corresponding behavior coefficient.

3. Calculate the fundamental period of the building.

4. Applying a computational spectrum (defined above), determine the horizontal spectral acceleration.

5. Calculate the shear force at the base of the building.

6. Determine the distribution of the horizontal force by level.

7. Determine the horizontal displacements by level and verify the maximum relative displacement at each level.

5.7.1. Determination of modal masses

As indicated in the statement, the following assumptions are considered for the determination of the masses:
• The ground floor and the floors are considered independent occupancy as indicated in the statement. The
• last level is considered an inaccessible category H roof.

The total mass of the building is determined by the relationship: M = G KJ +    E, i .Qk, i aevc  E, i =  . 2i:
• For an office building (overload cat B) with independent occupancy floors, we have φ = 0.50:

• For category B overloads, there is an accompanying coefficient ψ2 = 0.30:

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• Regarding the roof, if we consider a category H (“Roof inaccessible), we have ψ2 = 0.00

• Which gives us :
o For the RDC: M = 75 + (0.50 * 30) * 35 = 80.25T
o For the two current stages: M = 50 + (0.50 * 0.30) * 25 = 53.75 T
o For the terrace: M = 35 + (0.00 * 1.00) * 5 = 35 T
o Total mass: M = 80.25 + 2 * 53.75 + 35 = 222.75 T

We therefore have a total mass of 222.75T

5.7.2. Behavior coefficient

We are in the case of a building braced by a concrete beam-column frame:

The behavior coefficient is defined by the formula:

• q = q0.kw  1.5

With:
• Frame => kw = 1
∝  ∝
• In DCM class =>   = 3. 0 with  = 1.3 (several bays, several floors)
 1  1
• So we have q0 = 3x1.3 = 3.9

We are in the case of a regular building, so there is no reduction of this coefficient by 0.80

5.7.3. Fundamental period of the building.

The fundamental period of the building can be estimated from the formula:

T1= C .H
t 3/4

With:
• Ct = 0.075 for a concrete frame H =
• 13.50m (value of the statement)

Is :
• T1 = 0.075x13.503/4 = 0.528 s

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We therefore have a fundamental period of 0.528s which must verify T1   min (4.Tvs ; 2.0 s), condition represented by the
following table (in our case for a class B soil) considering a type 1 spectrum:

5.7.4. Horizontal spectral acceleration.

The horizontal calculation spectrum is defined by the following formulas:

The characteristic periods are taken from the following table:

For a fundamental period of 0.528s, we are in the interval TVS-TD (see above), we will therefore use the following equation:

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Which gives us :
• According to the statement => agR = 2.50m /
• s² Category II of importance =>  i = 1.00
• Reference acceleration => ag = i *atgR = 2.50m / s² For a
• class B soil, we have S = 1.20
•   = 0.20 (Minimum acceleration value)

Is :
• Sd (T = 0.528s) = 2.50 * 1.20 * (2.5 / 3.9) * (0.50 / 0.528) = 1.82 m / s²
•   . atg = 0.20 * 2.50 = 0.50 m / s²

5.7.5. Shear force at the base of the building.

The shear force at the base is calculated from the following formula:

Fb = Sd (T) .m. 
With:
• Sd (T): value of the calculation spectrum for the period T1
• m: total mass of the building
• λ: correction coefficient whose value is equal to:
o λ = 0.85 if T1 ≤ 2 Tvs and the building has more than 2 floors
o λ = 1.0 other cases

We calculated in the previous question Sd (T) = 1.82 m / s²

The total mass of the building was determined in question 1 and is equal to 222.75T.

The coefficient   =0.85 because we have T1 = 0.528s <2 * Tc = 1 s and the building has more than two floors.

Either a cutting force at the base of Fb = 1.82 222.75 0.85 = 344.59KN

PS: when we apply masses in tonnes, we obtain forces in KN!

5.7.6. Distribution of horizontal force by level.

z.i mi
ar: Fi = Fb.
 
The horizontal forces at cha that floor are determined p
z j.mj
Which gives us :

Shear force per stage

Fb = 344.59
floor zi (m) mi (T) zi.mi Fi (KN)
DRC 3.5 80.25 280,875 59.99
1 6.5 53.75 349,375 74.62
2 9.5 53.75 510.625 109.06
3 13.5 35.00 472.50 100.92
Sum 222.75 1613.375 344.59

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5.7.7. Horizontal movements by level

Displacements by level are estimated from the formula:

2
zm   T  
de= dST
().  .
i. i
.   
  z j.mj   2   

Displacements to be taken into account must be calculated without taking into account the coefficient of behavior, one
therefore apply the following formula:

ds = qde
The calculations can be presented in the form of a table:

Displacementts per floor

T = 0.528 q = 3.9 Sd (T) = 1.82
floor zi (m) mi (T) zi.mi of (cm) ds (cm) drelatif (cm)
DRC 3.5 80.25 280,875 0.190 0.7417
1 6.5 53.75 349,375 0.237 0.9226 0.1809
2 9.5 53.75 510.625 0.346 1.3484 0.4258
3 13.5 35 472,500 0.320 1.2477 - 0.1007
Sum 1613.375

The max relative displacement is 0.426cm.

According to the statement, we are in the case of a building with fragile non-structural elements linked to the structure:
dr.    0.005h, with   = 0.50 for an importance category 2.

The limit displacement is therefore (0.005 * 300) /0.50=3cm => verification OK

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Exercise 2 - Office building

The objective is to study the bracing of a reinforced concrete building used as offices of height equal to
22.10 m comprising:
• Two levels of basement 2.50m high. A ground floor
• level 3.10 m high.
• 5 upper levels of 2.80m high.

The plan dimensions for each level are as follows (for simplicity, the same for all floors):

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• The sail numbers are as follows:

• The wall thicknesses in cm are as follows (identical for all floors):

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The charges to be considered (over the entire surface of each level) are shown in the following diagram (we neglect the low
slab above the foundations):

CAUTION, for the roof overload, we consider a

category H (Roof not accessible), which
corresponds to an accompanying coefficient  2
=0

The dead weight of the floors is

included in the charges
permanent!

Seismic characteristics of the building:

▪ Soil class B
▪ Importance category II
▪ Topography ST = 1
▪ DCM medium ductility structure - uncoupled walls Stories
▪ with independent occupancy
▪ Buildings with fragile non-structural elements bound to the structure

For this study, we consider an EC8 spectrum with a nominal acceleration atgR =2.50m / s²:

For the study, only the walls are considered as participating in the bracing of the structure.

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The calculation steps are as follows, for each earthquake direction:

• Determination of total masses for each level.

• Determination of the corresponding behavior coefficient for the two horizontal directions of earthquake (one
neglects the vertical direction in this exercise).
• Calculation of the fundamental period of the building in each direction, considering only the walls in the bracing of
the building.
• Calculation of the horizontal spectral acceleration in each direction from the calculation spectrum.
• Calculation of the shear force at the base for each direction.
• Distribution of horizontal force by level and evolution of force as a function of height, for each direction

• Distribution of the horizontal force per wall at the level of the subsoil (just above the foundations), considering the
effects of torsion by the simplified formula of the method of lateral forces.

5.8.1. Determination of total masses per level

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5.8.2. Behavior coefficients in both directions

5.8.3. Fundamental periods in both directions

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5.8.4. Spectral accelerations

5.8.5. Shear force at the base

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5.8.6. Horizontal force per level

5.8.7. Force by veil / torsion

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