A proposal for the compatibility of static and dynamic seismic base shear provisions of the National Building Code

Abstract

A comparison is made, based on static and dynamic base shear calculations according to the National Building Code of Canada of 1980, for four types of simple structures, namely, uniform moment resisting frame structures, uniform ductile flexural wall structures, uniform reinforced concrete shear wall structures, and unreinforced masonry wall structures. It is shown that a significant discrepancy exists between the static and dynamic base shear values, depending on the type and the fundamental period of the structure. The causes for the discrepancy and the necessity to make static and dynamic base shears compatible are discussed.