Design Example 3

Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frame

OVERVIEW

Concrete frame buildings, especially ones with older, non-ductile frames, have frequently experienced
significant structural damage in earthquakes. A number have collapsed. Following the 1971 San Fernando
earthquake, special requirements for ductile concrete frames were introduced in the code.

Today these ductile frames are designated as SMRF (Special Moment-Resisting Frames). All reinforced
concrete moment-frame structures built in Seismic Design Category D, E, or F locations must be SMRF as
required by Table 12.2–1. Ordinary Moment-Resisting Frames (OMRF) are prohibited in Seismic Design
Category locations C, D, E or F, and Intermediate Moment-Resisting Frames (IMRF) are prohibited in
Seismic Design Category locations D, E, or F.

This example illustrates the seismic design of a seven-story concrete SMRF. A conceptual elevation of
the building is shown. This is a reinforced concrete office building with the typical floor plan shown
in Figure 3–1. The building has seven stories with a SMRF on each perimeter wall. A typical building
elevation is shown in Figure 3–2.

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 Design Example 3 䡲 Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frame

1 2 2.3 3 3.5 4 4.7 5 6

120' – 0"

24' – 0" 24' – 0" 24' – 0" 24' – 0" 24' – 0"
F.O. SLAB
TYP 6' – 0" 12' – 0" 6' – 0"
30" × 30" CONC
CORNER COL’S
TYP
E

30" × 36" CONC

PERIMETER
COLS’S, TYP
D

C.7
TYP PERIMETER
CONC SMRF
8" P.T. SLAB
BEAMS

24" × 24" SQ
INTERIOR COLS’S,
TYP
B.3

Figure 3–1. Typical floor plan

1 2 3 4 5 6

ROOF

7th FLOOR

6th FLOOR

5th FLOOR

4th FLOOR

3rd FLOOR

2nd FLOOR

1st FLOOR

120' – 0"

Figure 3–2. Typical frame elevation, line A

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 Design Example 3 䡲 Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frame

OUTLINE

Determine the controlling seismic parameters and/or design the following structural elements.

1. Site Ground Motion

2. Design Base Shear Coefficient

3. Redundancy Factor

4. Combined Effect of Horizontal and Vertical Earthquake-Induced Forces

5. Vertical Distribution of Seismic Forces

6. Frame Nodal and Member Forces

7. Analysis and Evaluation of Frame Drifts

8. Beam Design

9. Column Design

10. Joint Shear Analysis

11. Detailing of Beams and Columns

12. Foundation Considerations

13. Commentary

GIVEN INFORMATION

The building has a floor system consisting of post-tensioned slabs. Vertical loads are carried by a frame
system. Use of perimeter SMF is designed to allow freedom for tenant improvements.

Seismic and site data:

Mapped spectral response accelerations (5% critical damping, Site Class B)

SS = 1.5 at 0.2-second response §22.0
S1 = 0.60 at 1.0–second response
Ie = 1.0 (Occupancy Category II) §11.5.1
Site Class D

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 Design Example 3 䡲 Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frame

Average story weights (for seismic design):

Roof loads:

Material Roof (psf)

Roofing 5.0
Concrete slab 100.0
Girders 15.0
Columns 9.0
Partition walls (seismic)* 5.0
Curtain wall 3.0
MEP 2.0
Miscl. 1.0
Total dead for seismic 140.0
Lr (roof live load) 20

Typical floor loads:

2nd–5th Floors 6th–7th Floors

Material (psf) (psf)
Floor covering 1.0 1.0
Concrete slab 100.0 100.0
Girders 27.0 15.0
Columns 18.5 18.5
Partition walls (seismic)* 10.0 10.0
Curtain wall 5.0 5.0
MEP 2.0 2.0
Miscl. 1.5 1.5
Total dead for seismic 165.0 153.0
L (floor live load) 50 50
* Partitions in ASCE 7 are live loads, and are 15 psf minimum live load for gravity calculations
and 10 psf for seismic calculations per Section 12.7.2.

Structural material specifications are given as follows:

Concrete fc′ = 4000 psi (normal weight)
Reinforcing A706, ( fy = 60 ksi) for longitudinal bars in Special Moment Frames
Reinforcing A615, Grade 60 ( fy = 60 ksi) for stirrups located in Special Moment Frames

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 Design Example 3 䡲 Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frame

CALCULATIONS AND DISCUSSION CODE REFERENCE

1. Site Ground Motion §11.4

The maximum considered earthquake spectral response acceleration for short periods, SMS, and at
1.0-second period, SM1, adjusted for site class effects, shall be determined by Equations 11.4–1
and 11.4–2.

Fa = 1.0 T 11.4–1
Fv = 1.5 T 11.4–2
SMS = FaSS = (1.0)(1.5g) = 1.5 Eq 11.4–1
SM1 = Fv S1 = (1.5)(0.60g) = 0.90 Eq 11.4–2

Five-percent-damped design spectral response acceleration at short periods, SDS, and at 1.0-second
period, SD1, adjusted for site class effects, shall be determined by Equations 11.4–3 and 11.4–4.

SDS = 2/3 SMS = (2/3)(1.5) = 1.0 Eq 11.4–3

SD1 = 2/3 SM1 = (2/3)(0.90) = 0.60 Eq 11.4–4

2. Design Base Shear Coefficient §12.2–1

The coefficients for a reinforced concrete special moment frame building:

Response modification factor, R = 8 T 12.2–1

System overstrength factor, Ωo, = 3
Deflection amplification factor, Cd = 5.5.

The approximate fundamental building period, per Section 12.8.2.1, is

Ta = Ct hnx = (0.016)(86 ft)0.9 = 0.88 sec.

Alternately,

Ta = 0.1N = 0.1(7) = 0.7 sec Eq 12.8–8

Therefore, use Ta = 0.88 sec.

The seismic base shear, V, in a given direction shall be determined in accordance with the following
equation

V = CsW. Eq 12.8–1

The calculation of seismic response coefficient, Cs, shall be

S DS 10
Cs = = = 0.125. Eq 12.8–2
⎛ R⎞ ⎛ 8 ⎞
⎜I ⎟ ⎜⎝ 1 0 ⎟⎠
⎝ e⎠

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 Design Example 3 䡲 Reinforced Concrete Special Moment Frame

Calculation of TL = 8 per Figure 22.8.

Cs need not exceed the following:

S D1 06
Cs = = = 0.085 for T ≤ TL Eq 12.8–3
⎛ R⎞ ⎛ 8 ⎞
T⎜ ⎟ 0 88 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ Ie ⎠ ⎝1 0⎠

or

S D TL
Cs = for T ≥ TL. Eq 12.8–4
⎛ R⎞
2
T ⎜ ⎟
⎝ Ie ⎠

The value of seismic response coefficient, Cs, shall be not less than

Cs 0 044 S DS I e = 0.044 ≥ 0 01. Eq 12.8–5

In addition, for buildings located where S1 is equal to or greater than 0.6, the value of the seismic response
coefficient, Cs, shall not be less than

Cs =
0 5S1
=
( 0 5) ( 0 6) = 0 043
04 . Eq 12.8–6
⎛ R⎞ ⎛ 8 ⎞
T⎜ ⎟ 0 88 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ Ie ⎠ ⎝1 0⎠

Equation
12.8-2

Cs
Equation
12.8-3 Maximum of Equation 12.8-5,
or 12.8-6

Figure 3–3. Typical response spectrum

Therefore, Equation 12.8–3 controls the base shear calculation for this building, and the seismic coefficient
is thus

V = CSW = 0.085W

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