How to Align Architectural Form with Seismic Design Requirements

In How to Align Architectural Form with Seismic Design Requirements, you'll learn ...

• How engineers can achieve aesthetic qualities desired by the architect without compromising structural integrity
• Four configuration conditions that are architecturally desirable but have the potential for catastrophic seismic failure
• Why buildings shaped in the form of an “L”, “T” or “H” suffer from torsion and stress concentration issues during an earthquake
• What is a diaphragm and why it is an important element in the entire building seismic resistance system

Overview

Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.

Credit: 3 CPD

Length: 49 pages

A building's structural system is directly related to its architectural configuration, which largely determines the size and location of structural elements such as walls, columns, horizontal beams, floors, and roof structure. This course explains how architectural design decisions influence a building's likelihood to suffer damage when subjected to earthquake ground motion.

Unfortunately, many common and useful architectural forms are in conflict with seismic design needs. To resolve these conflicts the architect needs to be more aware of the principles of seismic design, and the engineer needs to realize that architectural configurations are derived from many influences, both functional and aesthetic. The ultimate solution to these conflicts depends on the architect and engineer working together on building design from the outset of the project and engaging in knowledgeable negotiation.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the three basic types of vertical lateral force-resisting systems
• Explain why moment-resistant frames provide the most architectural design freedom
• Summarize why the framing system must be chosen at an early stage in the design
• Describe which framing system provides the most stiffness
• Define a diaphragm and explain its importance in the building seismic-resisting system
• Analyze how penetrations for staircases, elevator shafts, etc., affect the structural integrity of a diaphragm
• Compare the load transmitting characteristics of flexible versus rigid diaphragms
• Interpret building attributes that are seismically desirable
• Specify two undesirable conditions caused by building configuration irregularity and how building codes address these conditions
• Demonstrate how lack of symmetry in a building contributes to torsional forces during a seismic event
• Evaluate how building codes distinguish between "soft" and "weak" stories
• Relate why designs incorporating discontinuous shear walls often fail catastrophically during an earthquake
• Trace how seismic-design problems can occur in buildings that are geometrically regular and symmetrical but structurally irregular
• Determine why buildings shaped in the form of an “L”, “T” or “H” suffer from torsion and stress concentration issues during an earthquake
• Assess why buildings that fail in an earthquake typically fall down, rather than toppling over
• Examine how evolving architectural styles have impacted the seismic performance of buildings
• Classify the use of exposed bracing for both seismic resistance and architectural expression

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 15 questions. CPD credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.