Seismic assessment of buildings in Hong Kong with special emphasis on displacement-based approaches

Abstract

Abstract of thesis entitled Seismic Assessment of Buildings in Hong Kong with Special Emphasis on Displacement-Based Approaches Submitted by MD. NEAZ SHEIKH for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Hong Kong in June 2005 Given its location far away from any tectonic plate margin, Hong Kong is considered to be a region of low to moderate seismicity. Traditionally, seismic risk to infrastructure in Hong Kong has been considered low, but as a result of the rapid construction of high-rise buildings, complex infrastructure, and industrial facilities during the second half of the twentieth century, seismic risk has increased significantly. The aim of this thesis is to develop a straightforward and comprehensive displacement-based procedure for the seismic assessment of buildings, using existing calculations as a reference, to decide if further seismic investigation is required. Several key studies on the seismic hazard assessment for Hong Kong region have been critically reviewed. Design response spectral parameters at rock sites have been predicted by combining the outcome of the key seismic hazard studies in a logic tree approach. Due to the constraints of the natural topography and the high demand for housing and commercial buildings, reclamation of land from the sea has been widely practiced in Hong Kong. Conditions for reclamation sites along the waterfront provide a classical setting for developing soil resonance, which is notorious for its displacement amplification characteristics. A simplified and rational manual procedure has been developed, based on the results of numerous non-linear time history analyses of 18 representative soil columns in Hong Kong, which can be used