Seismic response for a reinforced concrete residential building according to South American standards in the Pacific zone.

Abstract

In the present work, the seismic response of a reinforced concrete building representative of modern multi-family residences of medium height in the southern zone of Peru was estimated. This region was considered because we can find growing urban areas with a variety of altitudes and consequently different seismic conditions, which can be found in the three countries of the case study, in accordance with the seismic standards of the Pacific area corresponding to the current official directives of Peru (E.030, 2018), Chile (NCh433, 2012) and Ecuador (NEC, 2015), using spectral modal analysis with the purpose of highlighting the most relevant aspects in the standards and identifying possible missing parameters that prominently influence the structural demand. The analysis included the estimation of shear forces, spectral acceleration and relative inter-story displacement, including variables such as seismic zoning, soil typology, category of use, structural system, among others; considering the approach of a uniform scheme for the comparison of limits between the relative inter-story displacement established in each standard. The process was carried out from numerical models of a 10-story reinforced concrete building consisting of frames and structural walls; finding, among others, that the highest acceleration demand at surface level in coastal regions for a rocky soil (Vs ≥ 900 m/s) corresponds to Peru, followed by Ecuador and Chile. It is concluded in general, that the highest demands and the most restrictive limits for different seismic zones and different soil conditions correspond to the regulatory provisions of Peru.