INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Analyze the structure for presence of potential

structural irregularities vertically
• Analyze the structure for presence of potential
structural irregularities horizontally

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

REGULAR STRUCTURES

Characteristics of a regular structure include:

• the structure is simple
• the structure is symmetrical
• the structure is not too elongated in plan or in
elevation
• the structure has continuous load transfer

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

REGULAR STRUCTURES

There is no universal rule which determine the ideal form of a structure

to resist earthquakes
• However, guiding principles suggest that regular structures will fare
better vs. ground motion

NSCP 2015 Section 208.4.5.1

“Regular structures has no significant physical discontinuities in plan
or vertical configuration or in their lateral-force resisting systems such
as the irregular features.”

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

REGULAR VS VERTICALLY IRREGULAR
IRREGULAR STRUCTURES
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY
Stiffness Irregularity (Soft Story)
Weight/Mass Irregularity
Vertical Geometric Irregularity
In-plane Discontinuity
Weak Story
DESCRIPTION
Lateral stiffness is less than 70% of the story above,
or 80% less than the average stiffness of the 3
stories above.
Effective mass of any story is more than 150% of
the effective mass of an adjacent story
Horizontal dimension of the lateral force-resisting
system in any story is more than 130% of that in an
adjacent story
In-plane offset of the lateral-force resisting
elements greater than the length of those
elements
Story strength is less than 80% of that of the story
above
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY
Stiffness Irregularity (Soft Story)
DESCRIPTION
Lateral stiffness (k) is less than 70% of the stiffness
of the story above, or 80% less than the average
stiffness of the 3 stories above.

𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬
𝒌𝒌 =
𝑳𝑳

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Weight/Mass Irregularity Effective mass of any story is more than 150% of
the effective mass of an adjacent story (either
above or below)

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Vertical Geometric Irregularity Horizontal dimension of the lateral force-resisting
system in any story is more than 130% of that in an
adjacent story (either above or below)

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
In-plane Discontinuity In-plane offset of the lateral-force resisting
elements greater than the length of those
elements

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Weak Story Story (shear) strength is less than 80% of that of
the story above

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

EXAMPLE #1
For the structure shown, determine if vertical irregularity is present.

Stiffness Irregularity (Soft Story)

Lateral stiffness (k) is less than 70% of
the stiffness of the story above, or
80% less than the average stiffness of
the 3 stories above.

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

EXAMPLE #1
For the structure shown, determine if vertical irregularity is present.

Regular Structure

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

EXAMPLE #2
For the structure shown, determine if vertical irregularity is
present.
Vertical Geometric Irregularity
Horizontal dimension of the
lateral force-resisting system in
any story is more than 130% of
that in an adjacent story
In-plane Discontinuity
In-plane offset of the lateral-
force resisting elements greater
than the length of those
elements

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

EXAMPLE #2
For the structure shown, determine if vertical irregularity is
present.

IRREGULARITY
Vertical Geometric
Irregularity
In-plane Discontinuity

CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

HORIZONTALLY IRREGULAR STRUCTURES
PLAN IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY
Torsional irregularity
Re-entrant corner irregularity
Diaphragm discontinuity
Out-of-plane offset irregularity
Non-parallel system irregularity
CE305 – PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
DESCRIPTION
Maximum story drift transverse to an axis is more than 1.2 times the
average story drift of two ends of the structure
Projections of the structure beyond a re-entrant corner are greater
than 15% of the plan dimension in the given direction
Open areas greater than 50% of the gross enclosed area of the
diaphragm or change in effective diaphragm stiffness of more than
50% from one story to next
Discontinuities in a lateral force path, such as out-of-plane offsets of
the vertical elements
The vertical lateral load resisting elements are not parallel to or
symmetric about the major orthogonal axes of the lateral force-
resisting systems
PLAN IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Torsional irregularity Maximum story drift transverse to an axis is more
than 1.2 times the average story drift of two ends
of the structure
PLAN IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Re-entrant corner irregularity Projections of the structure beyond a re-entrant
corner are greater than 15% of the plan dimension
in the given direction
PLAN IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Diaphragm discontinuity Open areas greater than 50% of the gross enclosed
area of the diaphragm or change in effective
diaphragm stiffness of more than 50% from one
story to next
PLAN IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY DESCRIPTION
Out-of-plane offset irregularity Discontinuities in a lateral force path, such as out-
of-plane offsets of the vertical elements
PLAN IRREGULARITIES
IRREGULARITY
Non-parallel system irregularity
DESCRIPTION
The vertical lateral load resisting elements are not
parallel to or symmetric about the major
orthogonal axes of the lateral force-resisting
systems
EXAMPLE #3
A four-story special moment
resisting frame building has
rigid floor diaphragms. Under
specified seismic forces,
including effects of accidental
torsion, it has following
displacement at Levels 2 and 3

Identify if any type of plan

irregularity exists
EXAMPLE #3

Torsional irregularity
Maximum story drift transverse to an
axis is more than 1.2 times the average
story drift of two ends of the structure
EXAMPLE #3

IRREGULARITY
Torsional irregularity @ 3rd Level
EXAMPLE #4

A four-story building has a

concrete wall lateral force
resisting system configuration.

Check if any plan irregularity

exists between first and
second stories

Out-of-plane offset irregularity

Discontinuities in a lateral force path,
such as out-of-plane offsets of the
vertical elements
EXAMPLE #4

A four-story building has a

concrete wall lateral force
resisting system configuration.

Check if any plan irregularity

exists between first and
second stories

IRREGULARITY
Out-of-plane offset irregularity
KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Irregularities should be checked since the relative lack of symmetry

and simplicity in structures will affect its response against
earthquakes.
• NSCP 2015 stipulates that structures are assessed per Table 208-9 for
vertical structural irregularities
REFERENCES
• ASCE (2016). Minimum design loads and associated criteria for buildings
and other structures : ASCE/SEI 7-16. American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines. (2016). National
Structural Code of the Philippines 2015 Volume 1: Buildings, Towers, and
Other Vertical Structures (7th ed.). Quezon City, Philippines: Association of
Structural Engineers of the Philippines
• Lindeburg, M. and Baradar, M. (2001). Seismic Design of Building Structures.
Professional Publications, Inc. Belmont, CA.
• Williams, A. (2000). Seismic Design of Buildings and Bridges. Engineering
Press. Austin, TX.