Improving the seismic

performance of existing
buildings with irregular
plans against torsion due to
earthquakes
Aaron Quidilla
Alberto Joseph Quintana
Ivy Sanchez
Jonathan Sanchez
Allen Teruel

 Buildings are
complex structures
Deformation
capacity of buildings
are affected

Photo taken from Gokdemir, et al. (2013)

ELASTIC TORSIONAL
RESPONSE

Regular structural system vs. Torsional

Irregularity

Photo taken from Gokdemir, et al. (2013)

Regular structural system vs. Torsional

Irregularity
Inertial force due to
earthquake acts on the
Center of Mass (CM)
Resisting force acts on
the Center of Rigidity (CR)
Eccentricity exists when
there are unsymmetrical
Photo taken from Gokdemir, et al. (2013)structural elements on the
storey.

Regular structural system vs. Torsional

Irregularity
Inertial force due to
earthquake acts on the
Center of Mass (CM)
Resisting force acts on
the Center of Rigidity (CR)
Eccentricity exists when
there are unsymmetrical
Photo taken from Gokdemir, et al. (2013)structural elements on the
storey.

How to reduce eccentricity?

Lateral bracing elements should be
symmetrically arranged
Lateral bracings should be placed
sufficiently away from the center of
mass

Sometimes the variations in the structural elements

in each floor cannot be avoided.

In

order to compensate for the possibilities of

torsional-induced earthquake responses, the New
Zealand code had suggested some criteria in order
to overestimate the actual earthquake load.

Instead

of increasing torsional strength, angle of

twist is emphasized.

Post 1950 seismic activity comparison between

Philippines and New Zealand(5 highest recorded
earthquakes)
New Zealand
Philippines
M7.8 Kermadec
M7.9 Moro Gulf
Islands(1955)
Earthquake(1976)
M7.6 Kermadec
M7.8 Luzon
Islands(2006)
Earthquake(1990)
M7.2 Tauranga(1953)
M7.3 Casiguran
Earthquake(1968)
M7.1 East Cape(2001)
M7.2 Bohol
Earthquake(2013)
M7.1 Puysegur Trench(2004)
M7.1 Mindoro

Restrictions on Twist
(According to the New Zealand code)

CRITERIA

1: The distance at any level

between the Center of Mass and the Center of
Rigidity should neither exceed 0.3 times the
maximum plan dimension of the structure at
that level, measured perpendicularly to the
applied lateral force.

erx

CENTER OF
RIGIDITY

EARTHQUAKE
LOAD

CENTER OF
MASS

CRITERIA

2: The ratio of the horizontal

displacements at the ends of the axis
transverse to the direction of the applied force
should be in range of 3/7 and 7/3, this
criterion makes allowances for a desired
minimum value for the torsional stiffness.

Viscous Dampers
Fluid viscous damping is a way to add energy
dissipation to the lateral system of a building
structure. A fluid viscous damper dissipates
energy by pushing fluid through an orifice,
producing a damping pressure which creates a
force.

Fluid Viscous Damper

Benefits

Reduce the earthquake excitation of a

structure and permit it to remain linearly
elastic during a seismic event

Substantial Stress Reduction

Relatively small and inconspicuous
Flexible