Earthquake Resistant Features in Buildings

Dr. K. S. Nanjunda Rao

 Shock Table Test Facility for Evaluating Research & Development

 Indigenous design and fabrication of

Earthquake Resistant Features in Buildings test facility

 Novel earthquake resistant features

for masonry buildings
Peak table acceleration 1.1g
 Simulating failure patterns same as
those observed in buildings after an
earthquake
Pendulum
(1.8m length & 600kg mass
Max. swing 400)

Masonry Building
Models

Rebound beam

Table acceleration response for a swing

containment Table angle of 300
reinforcement (payload 5000kg)
with link Fund. Freq. 90Hz Corner
containment
reinforcement
with triangular
Data acquisition link
system
Behavior of building models after 13 shocks Response after 5 shocks

One fourth scale models

Model 1
Response at top of cross wall

Model 1
(ERF as per
IS 4326:1993)

Model 2 Model 2
(ERF as per Response at top of cross wall
IS 4326:1993
plus additional
R C band at
Sill level and
Containment
reinforcement
 Shock Table Test Facility

Shock table test facility for evaluating seismic performance of buildings was designed and
constructed. The table is of size 3.5m by 2.5m and is supported on 4 wheels with ability to move
horizontally in one direction on rails. The table can be subjected to shocks through a swinging
pendulum of 600kg mass with provision to increase the mass up to 1000kg. On the side of the table
opposite to the pendulum, provision is made to generate a reverse shock through a reaction beam.
The impulse force that can be given to the table can be varied by changing the swing angle of the
pendulum, mass of the pendulum, the material to which the pendulum impacts. The reverse force to
the table can also be varied by changing the gap between the table and the reaction beam before the
start of the test. The photograph shows two brick masonry building models with different earthquake
resistant features on the shock table with instrumentation to measure the table motion and the
response of the building models.
CONCEPT OF ‘CONTAINMENT REINFORCEMENT’

It is well known that most of the structures tend to undergo large deformations in the event of a strong
earthquake. If the stresses caused due to lateral forces experienced by the structures exceed its strength,
the structure yields, if it is ductile. If the structure is brittle, as in the case of un-reinforced masonry, it will
suffer brittle failure. The pattern of failure of masonry buildings during an earthquake makes it clear that the
prevention of sudden flexural failure of masonry wall is critical to ensure an earthquake resistant masonry
structure. Again, since flexural tension can occur on both faces of the wall due to reversal of stresses during
an earthquake, there is a need to provide ductile reinforcement on both faces. This can be accomplished by
placing vertical reinforcement either on the surface or close to the surface and surrounding the wall, which is
termed as “containment reinforcement”. For the containment reinforcement to be effective, it is essential for
it to remain hugged to the wall at all times during an earthquake and to deform along with the masonry. In
order to meet this objective the vertical reinforcements on either face of the wall have to be connected to
each other, by horizontal ties/links passing through the bed joints of masonry. These horizontal ties along
with the mortar in the bed joints will ensure strain compatibility between vertical reinforcement and the
masonry. Earlier study on the flexure of masonry beams with longitudinal reinforcement wrapped round the
beam with links through the bed joints connecting the top and bottom reinforcement has shown substantial
ductility with multiple cracks before failure. Containment reinforcement is not primarily intended to increase
the lateral strength of the wall, but to permit large ductile deformation and to avoid total collapse. In other
words, containment reinforcement will act as main energy absorbing element of the wall which otherwise
has poor energy absorption capacity.
 Containment reinforcement

Link/tie

Masonry with containment reinforcement and links/ties connecting them

through bed joints.