Analysis of the Effect of Seismic Loads on Residential RC Buildings using the Change in Building Size and Return Period

Abstract

Unlike a completed building, a building under construction may be at risk in terms of safety if a load exceeds the value considered in the design stage owing to various factors, such as a load action different from that in the design stage and insufficient concrete strength. In addition, if an earthquake occurs in a building under construction, greater damage may occur. Therefore, this study studied example models with various sizes of 5, 15, 25, and 60 floors for typical building types and analyzed the effects of seismic load on buildings under construction using construction-stage models according to frame completeness. Because the construction period of the building is much shorter than the period of use after completion, applying same earthquake loads as the design stage to buildings under construction may be excessive. Therefore, earthquakes with a return period of 50 to 2,400 years were applied to the construction stage model to review the seismic loads and analyze the structural performances of the members. Thus, we reviewed whether a load exceeding that of the design stage was applied and the return period level of the earthquake that could ensure structural safety. In addition, assuming the construction period of each example model, the earthquake return period according to the construction period was selected, and the design appropriateness with the selected return period was checked.