Analysis of irregular multistorey buildings with and without floating columns under seismic loading

Abstract

Floating column is a vertical structural member that rests on the beam. Floating column is advantageous to provide large open space in a building, but it is disadvantageous in earthquake conditions. On the other hand, by the advancements in civil engineering knowledge, architects try to adopt irregular shapes of buildings. Providing floating columns in irregular buildings is a challenging issue for civil engineers they should deal with. That’s why study of application of floating column in irregular buildings is one of the important topics in modern civil engineering. This study focuses on analysing the seismic behaviour of G + 10 irregular buildings considering floating columns and without floating columns to compare with a regular building. The building models are analysed in ETABS V19 software, then analytical findings are explained in terms of (maximum storey drift, maximum storey displacement, and torsional irregularity). From the study it is found that providing floating columns in irregular buildings increase storey drift and storey displacement significantly. Similarly, the torsion increases in buildings when the floating columns are not provided symmetrically.