Earthquake Engineering CE 232 Quiz

Time Allowed: 1 hour

Prob. 1. A single-storey frame structure (Fig. 1) is subjected to initial displacement,

initial velocity,
. The mass of the structure is lumped at the level of the floor.

and

u(t)
Lumped mass at floor level
15000 kg

4m

Concrete Structure

Column Size: 300 x 300 mm

Damping ratio 0%
5m
Figure 1

Determine:
a. the lumped weight, W in kN at the floor
b. the moment of inertia, m4, of one column
c. the stiffness of the right column
d. the stiffness of the left column
e. the total stiffness, k of the storey
f. the circular frequency, of the structure
g. the cyclic frequency, f of the structure
h. the period, T of the structure
i. the equation of motion of the structure
j. the displacement response

Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
Ans:
( )
Ans: ( )

Solution:
(

)(
(
(
(
(

Derivation:

)
)(
( )
)(
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)(
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()

()
(

)
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)

()
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Equation of motion:
( )

()

Initial conditions:
( )

( )

Assumption:
()
( )

)
(

( )
( )

Equate (1) and (2) and to give:

()

( )

(
)

Simplify the above equation:

( )
( )
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(
(
(

()
()
()

)
)
)

(
(
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)

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Use equation (3) and apply initial conditions:

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( )

( )

Substitute value of B to equation (2) together with initial conditions:

( )
( )

( )
( )

( )
( )

Finally from equation (1), the displacement response is:

()

Prob. 2. If the same structure as in Prob. 1 has a damping ratio of 3%.

Determine:
a. the damping constant, c
b. the damped circular frequency of the structure
c. the equation of motion of the structure
d. the displacement response

Ans:
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Ans:
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Solution:
(

,( )(

()

)-

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)(

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[

()
(

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0

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.

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Derivation: (In case of Underdamped Condition:

Equation of motion:
( )

()

( )

Initial conditions:

Assumption:
()
( )

,
,

)
(

)(

)-

( )
( )

)-

Equate (1) and (2) to give:

( )

()

*(

(
(

*(

)
)

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(
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)
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)+

)+

The above equation is further simplified to give:

( )

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)]
(

)-

)}

Use preceding equation and apply initial conditions:

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( )+
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Using equation (2) with

( )

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Finally from equation (1), the displacement response is:

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)]

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)}

Prob. 3. If the single-storey frame structure in Prob. 1 starts from rest and is subjected to the loading
shown, applied at the level of the mass,

Determine:
a. the equation of motion of the structure

( )

()

()

Prob. 4. If the single-storey frame structure in Prob. 1 starts from rest, undamped, and is subjected to a
driving force of p(t) = 3sin4t (kN).
Determine:
a. the equation of motion of the structure

( )

()

I. Identification:

Earthquake 1. It is a result of the sudden movement of tectonic plates in the earths crust.
Focus
2. A point from which the seismic wave first originates.
Epicenter 3. The point of earths surface above the point in the earth where the seismic wave first originates.
II True or False
__F__ 1. Vertical components of ground motion are more destructive than horizontal components.
__T__ 2. The goal of earthquake design is to construct structures that will withstand moderate earthquakes
without damage and severe earthquakes without collapse.
__F__ 3. The stiffer member of a structure has a smaller share of the earthquake load.
__F__ 4. In earthquake design, beams should be stronger than columns.
__T__ 5. Deep deposits of soft soils tend to produce ground motions having predominantly long period
characteristics with the result that they produce their maximum effects on long period structures such
as multi-storey buildings and smallest effects on low, stiff, short period structures
__F__ 6. Shallow deposits of soft soils tend to produce ground motions having predominantly short period
characteristics with the result that they produce their maximum effects on short period structures
such as multi-storey buildings and smallest effects on low, stiff, short period structures.
II. Enumeration
1. Classify earthquake waves.

Body Waves- waves that can travel through the earth's inner layers
a. Primary Wave (P-Wave or Pressure Wave) is the fastest seismic wave that travels in longitudinal
direction through solids, liquids and gases.
b. Secondary Wave (S-Save or Shear Wave) is a seismic wave that travels in traverse direction
through solid rock.
Surface Waves are waves that can only move along the surface of the Earth.
a. Love Wave fastest surface wave and moves the ground from side-to-side.
b. Rayleigh Wave surface wave that rolls along the ground and considered as destructive wave.
2. Enumerate the factors that affect the behavior of structures and the magnitude of earthquake forces on

structures.
a. Characteristics of the earthquake (magnitude, intensity, duration, frequency)
b. Distance from the fault/epicentre to the structure
c. Site geology
d. Type of structure and its lateral load resisting system
3. Enumerate the three principal world zones of seismic activity.

1. Pacific Ring of Fire

2. Mediterranean Zone
3. Mid-Atlantic Ridge Zone
4. Types of earthquake magnitudes.

Local Magnitude
Body Wave Magnitude
Surface Wave Magnitude
Seismic Moment Magnitude
Signal Duration Magnitude

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

5. Underline the factors that influence earthquake load on structures from the following:

(air density, ground acceleration, wind velocity, wind direction, shape of structure, stiffness of structure,
natural period of vibration of the structure, epicentral distance, duration of the earthquake, surface
roughness of structure, terrain, height of structure, soil characteristics).
Identify the kind of seismic wave:
1. These waves are the fastest waves.
2. These waves travel through anything.
3. These waves are secondary waves.
4. This is the place inside the Earth where the Earthquake actually occurs.
5. This is the place on the surface of the Earth directly above the
Earthquake location.
6. These are surface waves & are very slow.
7. These are only half as fast as primary waves.
8. Where do the deepest Earthquakes occur?
9. These waves are compressional waves.

Ans: P Waves
Ans: P Waves
Ans: S Waves
Ans: Focus
Ans: Epicenter
Ans: L Waves
Ans: S Waves
Ans: Subduction Boundaries
Ans: P Waves

1. Starting from the basic definition of stiffness, determine the effective or equivalent stiffness of the
combined spring and write the equation of motion.

a
eq

b
1

c
eq

eq

m
p(t)

k1

p(t)
k3

k4

k1

k2

k2

d
eq

e
1

eq
1

Derivation of Relative Stiffness

Series Connection:
1
1

eq

1
1

hence,
1
eq

eq
1

Parallel Connection:
1
1
eq
1

1 1

eq

1 1

hence,
eq (

eq

http://mceer.buffalo.edu/connected_teaching/lessons/typesEarthquakes.html

http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/edu/FAQ/index_EN
http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/edu/FAQ/index_EN/#types_magnitude