Implications of modeling approaches on seismic performance of low- and mid-rise office and hospital shear wall buildings

Abstract

This paper investigates implications of using three conceptually different modeling approaches for reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls on seismic performance of several building designs including low-rise and mid-rise office and hospital buildings. Selected archetype buildings are designed to meet current code provisions for a site in downtown Los Angeles and are analyzed considering hazard levels characterized with 50%, 10%, and 2% probabilities of exceedance in 50 years. The study considers different models for structural walls, with either coupled or uncoupled shear and flexural behavior, and either linear or constant curvature distribution along the element height. FEMA P-58 methodology is used to assess damage and associated building repair cost. Performance assessment study illuminates the importance of utilizing high-fidelity models that consider coupled shear and flexural responses when conducting performance assessments for low- and mid-rise RC shear wall buildings; variations in median loss estimates obtained using uncoupled models range from 70% to 130% of the coupled model. In addition, the study reveals that the repair cost for hospitals are approximately 2 to 4 times larger than for office buildings due to significant damage to hospital equipment, warranting the use of RC structural walls for hospital builidngs in the regions of high seismicity. Finally, the study shows that the curtain walls generate significant loss in the case of low-rise RC wall buildings, reaching up to 50% of the total loss and highlighting the need for improved provisions for curtain walls for this type of construction.