Course outline

Week 1: Introduction and seismic risk

Learning outcomes:

• Summarize the history of the development of seismic design provisions in the U.S.
• Accurately define the difference between seismic risk and seismic hazard.
• Correctly identify the seismic risk associated with a given project location.

Topics:

• Course and instructor introduction
• Course objectives/outcomes
• Course content
• Seismic building codes in the U.S.
• Seismic risk analysis
• Weekly summary

Week 2: Influence of soil stiffness on ground motions

Learning outcomes:

• Correctly define the different spectral parameters used to define the seismic hazard in ASCE 7.
• Determine the site classification given the geotechnical parameters.
• Accurately summarize the impact site classification has on the seismic hazard response spectrum.

Topics:

• Quantification of ground motions
• ASCE 7 ground motion parameters
• Influence of soil stiffness on site response
• Site class determination
• Determination of site class coefficients Fa, Fv, and Cv
• Influence of site class on spectral shape

Week 3: Ground motion parameters, seismic design category, and response spectra

Learning outcomes:

• Determine the spectral accelerations for a given site using ASCE 7 or the online tools.
• Compute the site coefficients used to modify spectral accelerations to account for the site class.
• Establish the seismic design category using the design spectral accelerations.
• Develop the design response spectrum for a given project site using ASCE 7 or the online tool.

Topics:

• Determination of spectral accelerations and site coefficients
• Determination of the seismic design category
• Development of the design response spectrum

Week 4: Structural systems and combinations of systems

Learning outcomes:

• Define the three seismic performance factors assigned to lateral resisting systems.
• Determine the acceptability of a given lateral system based on the seismic design category and structure height.
• List and describe the different types of steel and reinforced concrete lateral resisting systems.
• Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of different lateral resisting systems.

Topics:

• Seismic performance factors
• Bearing wall, building frames, and moment frames
• Structural steel lateral resisting systems
• Reinforced concrete lateral resisting systems
• Combination lateral resisting systems

Week 5: Horizontal and vertical structural irregularities

Learning outcomes:

• List and define the horizontal and vertical irregularities in ASCE 7.
• List the penalties which affect seismic analysis and design of structures with structural irregularities in ASCE 7.
• Correctly determine the presence of horizontal and vertical irregularities in a structure in accordance with ASCE 7.

Topics:

• Impact of irregularities on seismic response
• Analysis and design penalties associated with irregularities
• Horizontal structural irregularities
• Vertical structural irregularities

Week 6: Diaphragm flexibility, accidental torsion, and analysis requirements

Learning outcomes:

• Define the three different diaphragm idealizations used in ASCE 7.
• List and describe the four analysis methods specified in ASCE 7.
• Specify which analysis method can be used to determine seismic demands for a given project.
• Calculate accidental torsion and determine when it needs to be applied in seismic design.

Topics:

• Idealization of diaphragm behavior in ASCE 7
• Selection of structural analysis procedure for seismic load determination
• Inherent and accidental torsion
• Requirements for including torsion in seismic analysis

Week 7: Load combinations, redundancy & overstrength, effective seismic weight

Learning outcomes:

• Correctly calculate and apply the redundancy factors in load combinations with seismic forces.
• Determine the elements that must be designed using the load combinations including the overstrength factor.
• Accurately calculate the seismic weight of a building structure for determination of the seismic base shear.

Topics:

• Load combinations with seismic load effects
• Calculating and using the redundancy factor
• Overstrength factors and where they apply to structural design
• Orthogonal load effects
• Calculating the effective seismic weight

Week 8: Modeling requirements, period of vibration, and drift

Learning outcomes:

• List the requirements of the computational model used to analyze the structure for seismic forces.
• Calculate the approximate fundamental period that can be used to determine the seismic forces.
• Compute amplified story drifts and verify they are less than ASCE 7 prescribed drift limits.

Topics:

• Requirements of the computational model for determining seismic force demands
• Methods to approximate the period of vibration of the structure
• Calculating the period of vibration using an analytical model
• Determining elastic story drifts from an analysis model
• Calculating amplified story drifts
• Checking amplified story drifts against ASCE 7 prescribed limits

Week 9: Equivalent lateral force and modal response spectrum analysis

Learning outcomes:

• Select which of the four analysis methods is allowable for a given structure in accordance with ASCE 7.
• Correctly compute the seismic force demands in accordance with the equivalent lateral force method.
• Accurately calculate the seismic force demands in accordance with the modal response spectrum analysis method.

Topics:

• Selection of appropriate analysis methods in ASCE 7
• Basis for the equivalent lateral force method
• Application of the equivalent lateral force method
• Basis for modal response spectrum analysis method
• Application of the modal response spectrum method

Week 10: Linear and nonlinear response history analysis

Learning outcomes:

• Discuss the differences between response spectrum and response history analysis in determining seismic forces.
• Apply the linear response history analysis method to compute seismic force demands in structures in accordance with ASCE 7.
• List the steps in the nonlinear response history analysis method.

Topics:

• Basis for response history analysis
• Selection of ground motions for response history analysis
• Basis for linear response history
• Application of the linear response history method
• Basis for nonlinear response history
• When to use nonlinear response history analysis
• Summary of steps for nonlinear response history analysis

Week 11: Analysis comparisons and diaphragm forces

Learning outcomes:

• Discuss the differences between the equivalent lateral force, modal response spectrum, and linear response history analysis methods for determining seismic design demands.
• Accurately calculate diaphragm forces for all levels of a building using the provisions of ASCE 7.
• Compute the design forces in the diaphragm, chords, and collectors using the equations in ASCE 7.

Topics:

• Comparison of ELF, MRSA, and LRH
• Elements of structural diaphragms
• Calculation of diaphragm forces
• Load path from diaphragm to lateral resisting system

Week 12: Non-structural components and nonbuilding structures

Learning outcomes:

• Summarize the analysis and design process used for seismic design of nonbuilding structures.
• Determine when seismic design of non-structural components and systems is required.
• Compute the seismic forces used to design the anchorage for non-structural components and systems.

Topics:

• Different types of non-building structures
• Seismic design non-building structures
• Types of non-structural components
• Seismic design of non-structural components

This course outline is subject to change.