Professional Documents
Culture Documents
&
Earthquake
Engineering-2722010
Dr. Siddharth G. Shah
Head & Associate Professor
Faculty of PG studies & Research
MEFGI-Rajkot
Earthquake resistant
features of masonry
structures
Lightness
Since the earthquake force is a function of
mass, the building shall be as light as possible
consistent with structural safety and
functional
requirements. Roofs and upper storeys of
buildings, in particular, should be designed as
light as possible.
Continuity of Construction
As far as possible, the parts of the
building should be tied together in such a
manner that the building acts as one unit.
Building Configuration
In order to minimize torsion and stress
Concentration, plan of building should be simple
geometric shape like square, rectangular or
circle be symmetrical both with
respect to mass and rigidity so that the centers
of mass and rigidity of the building coincide
with each other in which case no separation
sections other than expansion joints are
necessary
Building Configuration
If symmetry of the structure is not possible in plan,
elevation or mass, provision shall be made for
torsional and other effects due to earthquake forces
in the structural design or the parts of different
rigidities may be separated through crumple
sections. The
length of such building between separation
sections shall not preferably exceed three times
the width.
Building Configuration
As an alternative to separation section to
reduce torsional moments, the centre of
rigidity of the building may be brought
close or coincident to the centre of mass by
adjusting the locations and/or sizes of
columns and walls.
Building Configuration
Buildings having plans with shapes like,
L, T, E and Y shall preferably be separated
into
rectangular parts by providing separation
sections at appropriate places.
IS 13828:1993
Improving Earthquake Resistance of Low
Strength Masonry Buildings-Guidelines
General Recommendations
The height of the construction should be restricted to
one storey of Category I and II buildings and two
storeys of categories III and IV buildings. The height
of a storey should be kept as low as 2.5m but not
more than 3.5m.
The minimum wall thickness shall be one brick in
one storey construction and one brick in top storey
and 1 brick in bottom storey of up to three storey
construction. It should also not be less than 1/16 of
the length of wall between two consecutive
perpendicular walls.
The unsupported length of a wall between cross
walls should be limited to 7m.
GTU QUESTIONS
1. Discuss in detail the advantage of
horizontal bands and vertical
reinforcement in the masonry buildings.
2. Explain failures of masonry structures observed
in past earthquakes & how will you improve
performance of masonry building.
3. Earthquake resisting features of unreinforced
brick masonry structure.
4. Explain the earthquake resistance feature of
masonary structures