UNIT III: SEISMIC DESIGN CODES AND BUILDING CONFIGURATION

A. Seismic Design Code Provisions – Indian Codes

Seismic Design Philosophy

The philosophy of seismic design in India is not to make structures completely earthquake-
proof, but to ensure they behave in a predictable manner, giving occupants time to evacuate
and avoiding total collapse. Indian seismic codes aim to provide:

1. Life Safety: Prevent collapse and minimize casualties during strong earthquakes.

2. Damage Limitation: Reduce damage in moderate earthquakes to allow immediate

occupancy after the event.

3. Functionality: Critical buildings (like hospitals) must remain functional post-

earthquake.

Indian Seismic Zones: Geography and Tectonics

India lies at the northwestern end of the Indo-Australian plate, which is colliding with the
Eurasian plate, causing subduction (one plate diving beneath another). This tectonic
interaction causes frequent seismic activity.

Major Tectonic Regions:

 The Himalayas: Formed by sediments from the Tethys Sea; highly active seismically.

 The Indo-Gangetic Basin: A deep alluvial depression due to the weight of the
Himalayas.

 The Peninsular Plateau: Composed of ancient hard rocks; less seismically active but
not risk-free. Some parts experienced lava flows forming basalt rock layers (e.g., Deccan
Traps).

Prominent Past Earthquakes in India

These events help shape seismic design policies and teach valuable lessons:

Date Location Magnitude Max Intensity Deaths

16 Jun 1819 Cutch 8.3 VIII 1,500

12 Jun 1897 Assam 8.7 XII 1,500

4 Apr 1905 Kangra 8.6 X 19,000

15 Jan 1934 Bihar-Nepal 8.4 X 11,000

31 May 1935 Quetta 7.6 X 30,000

Date Location Magnitude Max Intensity Deaths

15 Aug 1950 Assam 8.5 X 1,530

30 Sep 1993 Latur (Killari) 6.4 IX 7,928

26 Jan 2001 Bhuj 7.7 X 13,805

Note: Many earthquakes in the peninsular region are intra-plate and still dangerous.

Seismic Zoning in India

1970 Seismic Zone Map:

 Zones: I to V (Zone I = least risk, Zone V = highest).

 Based on Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale:

o Zone I: V or less

o Zone II: VI

o Zone III: VII

o Zone IV: VIII

o Zone V: IX and higher

2002 Revision:

 Zones reduced to II, III, IV, V

 Zone I merged into Zone II.

 Madras upgraded from Zone II to III.

 The map is updated as geological understanding improves.

Note: For important infrastructure (e.g., dams, nuclear plants), site-specific seismic
hazard evaluation and microzonation are done.

How Architectural Features A ect Buildings During Earthquakes

Importance of Architectural Features

The shape, size, and geometry of a building directly a ect how it behaves during earthquakes.
The way seismic forces are transferred to the ground is crucial. Hence, architectural and
structural planning must be integrated from the initial stages.

Quote by Henry Degenkolb (Earthquake Engineer, USA):

“If we have a poor configuration to start with, all the engineer can do is to provide a band-aid... If
we start o with a good configuration, even a poor engineer cannot harm its performance too
much.”
 Architectural Configurations

Size of Buildings

 Tall buildings with large height-to-base ratio: More prone to large horizontal floor
movements during seismic events.

 Short but long buildings: E.g., school buildings or factories—vulnerable to lateral

forces due to extended plan length.

 Large floor area buildings: Like warehouses face issues in lateral force distribution;
walls and columns may not resist the forces adequately.

Horizontal Layout (Plan Geometry)

 Simple, regular plans: Perform well during earthquakes.

o Eg: Rectangular or square footprints.

 Re-entrant corners (U, V, H, + shapes): Su er from stress concentrations and poor

performance.

 Mitigation Strategy:

o Separation joints: Split re-entrant plans into two regular rectangles. E.g., an L-
shaped plan becomes two rectangles.

 Asymmetrical column/wall distribution: Leads to torsion and twisting during

shaking.

Vertical Layout

Vertical irregularities lead to disruption in load path and are among the most dangerous flaws.
Types include:

1. Setbacks in vertical profile:

o Common in hotels—larger base, narrower top.

o Leads to concentration of forces at discontinuity.

2. Soft storeys or open ground floors:

o Often for parking or commercial use.

o Collapse risk high—as seen in 2001 Bhuj earthquake.

3. Uneven column heights on sloped ground:

o Causes torsion and damage to shorter columns.

4. Floating/Hanging columns:

o Columns not connected to the foundation; rest on beams.

 o Interrupts load path—dangerous during seismic events.

5. Discontinuous shear walls or RC walls:

o If structural walls end at upper floors and don’t continue to the base, load
transfer is disrupted.

Adjacency of Buildings

 When buildings are too close together, they can pound or collide during shaking.

 Pounding risk increases with height di erence:

o The taller building may receive impact at mid-height, causing serious column
damage.

Building Design and Irregular Features

 Aesthetic or functional forms should not compromise earthquake safety.

 If irregularity is unavoidable, then:

o Higher-level engineering e ort is needed.

o Even then, performance might not match that of a regular structure.

Design decisions taken at the planning stage influence earthquake performance more than
accurate calculations later.

IS CODES FOR EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT BUILDING DESIGN

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has developed multiple codes to guide safe earthquake-
resistant design and construction practices. These codes address di erent materials, building
types, and structural detailing aspects.

IS: 1893 (Part 1) – 2002

Title: Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures: Part 1 – General Provisions and
Buildings

 This is the primary code for seismic design in India.

 It classifies the country into seismic zones (II, III, IV, V).

 Provides methods for calculating design seismic forces.

 Considers importance factor, soil type, and response reduction factor.

 Deals with regular buildings; additional parts deal with dams, bridges, etc.

Old Version:
  IS:1893-1984 was the previous edition replaced by the 2002 version, which introduced
significant technical updates.

IS: 4326 – 1993

Title: Code of Practice for Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction of Buildings

 Contains general principles of earthquake-resistant design.

 Specifies construction techniques for:

o Masonry

o Timber

o RC (Reinforced Concrete)

 O ers prescriptive rules rather than complex calculations.

 Especially useful for non-engineered construction.

IS: 13827 – 1993

Title: Guidelines for Improving Earthquake Resistance of Earthen Buildings

 Targets buildings made of earth/mud-based construction.

 Recommends special design and construction features to resist earthquakes.

 Applicable across all seismic zones, but:

o No special provisions are needed for Zone II.

 Focuses on non-engineered structures.

 Note: Such buildings are not collapse-proof for earthquakes of intensity VIII or higher
(Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale).

IS: 13828 – 1993

Title: Guidelines for Improving Earthquake Resistance of Low Strength Masonry Buildings

 Applies to structures made of:

o Burnt clay bricks

o Stones in weak mortars (e.g., clay, mud)

 Deals with non-engineered masonry construction.

 Covers all seismic zones.

 Buildings may still fail under very strong shaking (Intensity VIII or higher), but collapse
risk is significantly reduced.
 IS: 13920 – 1993

Title: Code of Practice for Ductile Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Structures Subjected to
Seismic Forces

 Very important for RC frames in seismic zones III, IV, and V.

 Focuses on ductility, i.e., the structure’s ability to deform without collapsing.

 Ensures better energy absorption and dissipation.

 Applies to monolithic RC construction only.

 Precast/prestressed concrete members allowed only if they meet ductility criteria

similar to monolithic RC.

IS: 13935 – 1993

Title: Guidelines for Repair and Seismic Strengthening of Buildings

 Covers:

o Principles of seismic strengthening

o Selection of materials

o Techniques for retrofitting

 Applicable to:

o Masonry buildings

o Wooden buildings

 Provides limited guidance on:

o Individual RC members, non-structural elements, and architectural

components

o Does not fully address RC frame or shear wall systems.

IS: 4967 – 1968

Title: Recommendations for Seismic Instrumentation for River Valley Projects

 Recommends how to instrument dams and related structures to monitor seismic

activity.

 Useful for real-time assessment and future studies.

SP: 22 (S&T) – 1982

Title: Explanatory Handbook on Codes for Earthquake Engineering – IS:1893-1975 & IS:4326-
1976

 Provides background explanations and practical applications for earlier versions of

the main codes.

 Though dated, still serves as a reference document in understanding code logic.

Additional Reading References

 Arnold, C. & Reitherman, R. (1982): Building Configuration and Seismic Design, Wiley,
USA.

 Lagorio, H.J. (1990): Earthquakes: An Architect’s Guide to Non-Structural Seismic

Hazard, Wiley, USA.

 Bolt, B.A. (1999): Earthquakes, 4th Ed., W.H. Freeman & Co., New York.

SEISMIC ISSUES IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Understanding the impact of building configuration and layout on earthquake performance is

crucial for architects and engineers. Key considerations include scale, symmetry, vertical and
horizontal planning, and addressing torsion, soft storeys, short columns, etc.

Importance of Building Configuration

 Building configuration is the overall shape and layout of the structure in plan and
elevation.

 It determines how seismic forces travel from the top to the foundation.

 Bad configurations = stress concentrations, torsion, weak points.

 Good configurations = symmetrical, uniform mass and sti ness distribution.

Key Principle:

“Decisions made at the architectural planning stage have a more significant impact on seismic
performance than precise calculations done later.”

Scale and Size of Buildings

1. Tall Buildings:

o Large height-to-base ratio → large horizontal displacement.

o Tall and slender → vulnerable to overturning.

2. Long Low-Rise Buildings:

o Long structures like schools or factories → su er di erential seismic response

across length.
3. Buildings with Large Floor Areas:

o Wide-span structures like warehouses experience large in-plane horizontal

forces.

o Walls/columns may be insu icient for such loads.

Horizontal Plane (Plan Layout)

1. Simple Plan Shapes:

o Rectangles and squares perform best.

o Symmetrical layout = even distribution of mass and sti ness.

2. Re-entrant Corners:

o Plans with U, V, H, + shapes → su er from stress concentration and torsion.

o Re-entrant corners act as weak points under lateral forces.

3. Remedial Measure:

o Use separation joints to split irregular plans into independent rectangular

blocks.

 Example: L-shape ➝ 2 rectangles with joint.

4. Uneven Distribution of Sti ness/Mass:

o If columns/walls are unevenly placed, the center of mass and sti ness don't
align, causing torsional e ects.

Vertical Plane (Elevation Configuration)

1. Setbacks:

o Common in high-rise buildings.

o Abrupt change in building width at some storeys causes a sudden increase in

lateral force at that level.

2. Soft Storeys:

o Typically ground floors with open parking or shops.

o These storeys have less sti ness, making them vulnerable to collapse.

o Seen widely in Gujarat (2001 Bhuj earthquake).

3. Short Columns:

o When some columns are partially restrained (due to partial height infill walls),
they behave as short columns.
 o They become sti and attract more force, leading to brittle failure.

4. Floating or Hanging Columns:

o Structural columns that do not extend to the foundation but are supported on
beams.

o Disrupts the load path, leading to severe failure during seismic motion.

5. Buildings on Sloping Ground:

o Uneven column heights lead to asymmetrical sti ness.

o Causes twisting, concentrated damage in shorter columns.

6. Discontinuity in Shear Walls:

o Shear walls that do not continue to the ground disrupt vertical load transfer.

o Makes the lower levels vulnerable.

Torsion in Buildings

 Caused when the center of mass ≠ center of sti ness.

 The building twists about the vertical axis during shaking.

 Irregular geometry, unsymmetrical sti ness distribution, and eccentric loading can
lead to torsion.

 Torsion leads to greater lateral displacement on one side of the building, increasing
damage risk.

Pounding E ect Between Adjacent Buildings

 When two buildings are closely spaced, they may collide during ground shaking.

 Especially dangerous if:

o Buildings have di erent heights (one may hit the middle columns of the other).

o Buildings have di erent dynamic characteristics.

 Proper seismic separation gap must be provided based on relative displacements.

CONCLUSION: Design Implications

 Avoid complex shapes unless absolutely necessary.

 Separate irregular blocks with seismic joints.

 Maintain vertical uniformity—carry load paths from roof to foundation clearly.

 Provide adequate spacing between adjacent buildings.

  Use ductile detailing, even in non-critical buildings.

 Ensure collaboration between architects and structural engineers from the

beginning.

REVISION SHEET

Revision Sheet – Unit III: Seismic Design Codes & Building Configuration

1. Seismic Design Philosophy

 Earthquake-resistant design does not aim to make structures earthquake-proof.

 Main goals:

o Prevent collapse (life safety)

o Limit damage (functional after moderate quakes)

o Ensure critical structures remain operational

 Design assumes earthquakes are random, inevitable, and may occur during the
building’s lifespan.

2. Seismic Zoning in India

 India lies on Indo-Australian Plate, colliding with the Eurasian Plate (subduction zone).

 Zones (as per IS 1893:2002): Zone II (Low risk) to Zone V (Very high risk)

 Updated Seismic Zones:

o Zone I merged into Zone II

o Madras upgraded to Zone III

 Microzonation is required for urban/metropolitan planning and major infrastructure.

3. Past Earthquakes in India (Selected)

Year Location Magnitude Deaths

1897 Assam 8.7 1,500

1934 Bihar-Nepal 8.4 11,000

1950 Assam 8.5 1,530

1993 Latur 6.4 7,928

Year Location Magnitude Deaths

2001 Bhuj (Gujarat) 7.7 13,805

4. Architectural Configuration – Key Concepts

Horizontal Layout:

 Good: Simple, rectangular, symmetric plans.

 Bad: Re-entrant corners (U, V, H, L, + shapes) → stress concentrations.

o Solution: Separation joints to isolate complex shapes.

Vertical Layout:

 Avoid:

o Setbacks, open ground storeys (soft storey)

o Uneven column heights on slopes

o Floating/hanging columns

o Discontinuous shear walls

Torsion:

 Happens when center of mass ≠ center of sti ness.

 Leads to twisting, uneven displacement, severe damage.

Pounding:

 Occurs when closely spaced buildings collide during shaking.

 Risk increases if buildings have di erent heights or sti ness.

5. Key IS Codes

Code Description

IS 1893 (2002) General provisions & seismic zones (primary code)

IS 4326 (1993) Earthquake-resistant construction practices

IS 13827 (1993) Earthen buildings

IS 13828 (1993) Low-strength masonry

IS 13920 (1993) Ductile detailing of RC structures

IS 13935 (1993) Repair & strengthening of damaged buildings

Code Description

IS 4967 (1968) Seismic instrumentation for dams

SP:22 (1982) Explanatory handbook (IS 1893 & 4326)

6. Design Guidelines Summary

 Prefer regular geometry in plan and elevation.

 Avoid soft storeys, short columns, and torsional irregularities.

 Design for ductility, not just strength.

 Architects and structural engineers must collaborate from the start.