Module 4

LATERAL-FORCE PROCEDURE:
Design Base Shear

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Know the type of equation to be used when computing the design base shear of
a building.
2. Compute the design base shear of a building and distribute vertically.
3. Analyze a structure subjected to lateral forces.

COURSE MATERIAL

1.0 Selection of Lateral Force Procedure

Any structure may be, and certain structures defined below shall be, designed using
the dynamic lateral-force procedure of Section 208.6 in NSCP 2015.

1.1Simplified Static.
The simplified static lateral-force procedure set forth in Section 208.5.1.1 may be
used for the following structures of Occupancy Category IV and V:

a. Buildings of any occupancy (including single-family dwellings) not more than

three stories in height excluding basements that use light-frame
construction.
b. Other buildings not more than two stories in height excluding basement.

1.2 Static.
The static lateral force procedure of Section 208.5 may be used for the following
structures:

a. All structures, regular or irregular in Occupancy Categories IV (Standard

Occupancy Structures) and V (Miscellaneous Structures) in Seismic Zone 2.
b. Regular structures under 75 meters in height with lateral force resistance
provided by systems listed in Table 208-11, except where Section
208.4.8.3, Item 4, applies.
c. Irregular structures not more than five stories or 20 meters in height.
d. Structures having a flexible upper portion supported on a rigid lower portion
where both portions of the structure considered separately can be classified
as being regular, the average story stiffness of the lower portion is at least
10 times the average story stiffness of the upper portion and the period of
the entire structures is not greater than 1.1 times the period of the upper
portion considered as a separate structure fixed at the base.

1.3 Dynamic.
The dynamic lateral-force procedure in Section 208.6 shall be used for all other
structures, including the following:
 a. Structures 75 meters or more in height, except as permitted by Section
208.4.8.2, Item 1.
b. Structures having a stiffness, weight or geometric vertical irregularity of
Type 1, 2, 3, as defined in Table 208-9, or structures having irregular
features not described in Table 208-9 or Table 208-10, except as
permitted by Section 208.5.4.1.
c. Structures over five stories or 20 meters in height in Seismic Zone 4 not
having the same structural system throughout their height except as
permitted by Section 208.6.2.
d. Structures, regular or irregular, located on Soil Profile Type SF, that have a
period greater than 0.7 second. The analysis shall include the effects of
the soils at the site and shall conform to Section 208.6.2, Item 4.

2.0 Minimum Design Lateral Forces

2.1 Simplified Static Force Procedure.

Structures conforming to the requirements of Section 208.4.8.1 may be designed
using this procedure.

1) Simplified Design Base Shear.

The total design base shear in the given direction shall be determined from the
following equation:

3 Ca
V= W
R

where the value C a shall be based on Table 208-7 for the soil profile type. When
the soil properties are not known in sufficient detail to determine the soil profile,
Type SD shall be used in Seismic Zone 4, and Type SE shall be used in Seismic
Zone 2. In Seismic Zone 4, the Near-Source Factor, Na, need not be greater than
1.3 if none of the following structural irregularities are present:

a. Type 1,4 or,5 of Table 208-9, or

b. Type 1 or 4 of Table 208-10.

2 )Vertical Distribution of Force

The forces at each level shall be calculated using the following equation:

3 Ca
Fx = wi
R

Where the value of C a shall be determined as in Section 208.5.1.1.

2.2 Static Force Procedure

1) Design Base Shear.

The total design base shear in a given direction shall be determined from the
following equations:

Cv I
V= W
RT
 The total design base shear need not exceed the following:

2.5C a I
V= W
R
The total design base shear shall not be less than the following:

V = 0.11C a IW

In addition, for Seismic Zone 4, the total base shear shall also not be less than
the following

0.8ZN V I
V= W
R

2) Structure Period, T
The value of T shall be determined from one of the following methods:

a. Method A :
For all buildings, the value of T may be approximated from the following
equation:

T = C t (hn )
3/ 4

where: C t = 0.0853 for steel moment-resisting frames

C t = 0.0731 for reinforced concrete moment-resisting frames
and eccentrically braced frames.
C t = 0.0488 for all other buildings
hn = height in meter above the base to Level n.

Alternatively, the value of C t for structures with concrete or masonry shear

walls may be taken as 0.0743 / AC with AC in square meter.

The value of AC shall be determined from the following equation:

AC =  Ae  0.2 + (De / hn)2 

The value of De / hn used in the equation shall not exceed 0.9.

b. Method B:
The fundamental period T may be calculated using the structural properties
and deformational characteristics of the resisting elements in a properly
substantiated analysis. The analysis shall be in accordance with the
requirements of Section 208.6.2. The value of T from Method B shall not
exceed a value 30 percent greater than the value of T obtained from Method
A in Seismic Zone 4, and 40 percent in Seismic Zone 2.

The fundamental period T may be computed by using the following equation:

 n 2  n 
T = 2   wi i   g   w f i i 
 i =1   i =1 
 The values of f i represent any lateral force distributed approximately in
accordance with the principles of Equations in the Vertical Distribution of
Force or any rational distribution. The elastic deflections,  i shall be
calculated using the applied lateral forces, f i .

3) Vertical Distribution of Force

The total force shall be distributed over the height of the structure in conformance
with the following equations in the absence of a more rigorous procedure.

n
V = Ft +  Fi
i =1

The concentrated force Ft at the top, which is in addition to Fn , shall be

determined from the equation:

Ft = 0.07TV

The value of T used for the purpose of calculating Ft shall be the period that
corresponds with the design base shear. Ft need not exceed 0.25V and may be
considered as zero where T is 0.7 second or less. The remaining portion of the
base shear shall be distributed over the height of the structure, including Level n ,
according to the following equation:

(V − Ft )wx hx
Fx = n

w h
i =i
i i

At each level designated as x , the force Fx shall be applied over the area of the
building in accordance with the mass distribution at that level . Structural
displacements and design seismic forces shall be calculated as the effect of
forces Fx and Ft applied at the appropriate levels above the base.

where:
Fi , Fn , Fx = design seismic force applied to Level i , n or x , respectively.
Ft = that portion of the base shear, V , considered concentrated at the top of the
structure in addition to Fn .
n = number of stories.
x = the story level under consideration.
i = story levels ranging from “ x = 1 ” at the first level above the base to i = n at
the upper most level.
hi , hn , hx = height in meter above the base to Level i , n or x , respectively.
n = that level that is uppermost in the main portion of the structure.
Level x = that level that is under design consideration. “ x = 1 ” designates the first
level above the base.
T = elastic fundamental period of vibration, in seconds, of the structure in the
direction under consideration.
V = the total design lateral or shear force at the base.
wi , w x = that portion of W located at or assigned to Level i , or x , respectively.
 4) Seismic Dead Load, W
Seismic dead load, W, is the total dead load and applicable portions of other
loads listed below.

1. In storage and warehouse occupancies, a minimum of 25 percent of the

floor live load shall be applicable.
2. Where a partition load is used in the floor design, a load of not less than
0.5kN/m2 shall be included.
3. Total weight of permanent equipment shall be included.

5) Numerical Coefficient, R
The numerical coefficient representative of the inherent over-strength and global
ductility capacity of lateral-force-resisting systems is set forth in Table 208-11 or
208-12

2.3 Dynamic Analysis Procedure

1) General
Dynamic analyses procedures, when used, shall conform to the criteria
established in this section. The analysis shall be based on an appropriate ground
motion representation and shal be performed using accepted principles of
dynamics.

Structures that are designed in accordance with this section shall comply with all
other applicable requirements of these provisions.

2) Ground Motion
The ground motion representation shall, as a minimum, be one having a 10-
percent probability of being exceeded in 50 years, shall not be reduced by the
quantity R and may be one of the following: (Please refer to Section 208.6.2)

3) Mathematical Model
A mathematical model of the physical structure shall represent the spatial
distribution of the mass and stiffness of the structure to an extent that is
adequate for the calculation of significant features of its dynamic response.

4) Description of Analysis Procedure

An elastic dynamic analysis of a structure utilizing the peak dynamic response of
all modes having significant contribution to structural response.

5) Response Spectrum Analysis (Please refer from 208.6.5)

6) Time History Analysis (Please refer from 208.6.6)