By Aravind Ashok 03-01-2011

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEISMIC AND WIND LOADS

The loads acting on a structure are mainly the vertical and lateral loads. The vertical load mainly consist of dead load and the imposed loads and the behaviour of the structure when subjected to various vertical loads is the same. The lateral load mainly consist of seismic forces, wind load, mooring load, tsunami etc., amongst which the seismic force and the wind force are the common ones. The application of these forces and the behaviour of the structure when subjected to these forces varies. In this document, the author is intend to present how the action of these forces and the performance of the structure varies.
SL. NO. 1 SEISMIC LOAD WIND LOAD

Seismic force depends on mass of the structure and the destribution of mass. The load acts at the centre of Wind force depends on the exposed area of the structure mass of the structure. The seismic force will be distributed along interior and The wind force will act mainly on exterior (i.e., exposed) exterior frames and columns in a structure. i.e., acts at frames and it may reduce to interior frames based on the location of masses type of structure(Shielding effect) A structure having lesser mass will perform good A structure having higher mass will resist the wind load during seismic events since it attracts lesser load and effectively and the structure having lesser surface area the exposed area has got no influence on the will perform better since it attracts lesser wind force. performance during seismic events. The stiffness of the structure influences the seismic The stiffness of the structure has no influence on the force developed wind force developed The base shear value is more at bottom and it decreases The wind force increases as height increases if the as height increases due to reduction in cumulative exposed area remains same weight
STOREY NO. Wr Wf Wf Wf Wf Wf Wf Wf Wf Wf Wf 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Qr Q9 Q8 Q7
Q6 Qr Q9 Q8 Q7

Q6
Q5

Q5
Q4

Q4
Q3

Q3
Q2

Q2
Q1

Q1

FRAME

DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION OF OF SHEAR FORCE Fig. 1.a Base Shear distribution

FRAME

DISTRIBUTION OF FORCE

Fig. 1.b Wind force distribution

The damping will be considered in the calculation of The damping will not be considered in the calculation of seismic forces wind forces in normal conditions (i.e., for static analysis)

The inertia of the structure is the main factor which Inertia has less impact in the generation of wind force causes seismic force m + c + ku = 0 ku = F(t) (Depending on case m, c may be considered The seismic force is mainly generated at the base of a The wind force is generated at each nodes in the exposed structure area When a structure is subjected to seismic load, torsion Wind load doesn't cause torsion in a structure will develop if the centre of mass and the centre of stiffness doesn't coincide

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Fig.2.a 10

Fig.2.b

The soil type in which the structure stands will also The soil type will not have much effect on performance affect its performance during seismic force of structures during wind The performance of a structure during seismic events The performance of a structure can be improved when a can be improved by providing base isolators which will wind acts by improving the shape of the structure by retard the transfer of seismic load from ground to providing curved edges so that the wind load will be less. structure. The suction effects will not develop during seismic When the wind load acts in a building, negative pressure can act in it due to suction events The deflection of the structure will be to and fro about The deflection will be about the initial static deflected the centre of mass and it causes stress reversal in position and the to and fro motion is less compared to members seismic force and hence less reversal of stresses

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Fig. 3. a

Fig.3.b

Behaviour of the struture under seismic load

Behaviour of the struture under wind load

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The storey displacement will be large at upper floors The storey displacement at upper floors will be less during seismic events and the displacement will be compared to seismic forces and the displacement is parabolic linear The maximum deflection of the structure will be The maximum deflection of the structure will be around around 0.4% 0.5%

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DEFLECTION OF BUILDING UNDER WIND LOAD

Fig.4.a 17

Fig.4.b

The codal provision deals with the seismic load is IS The codal provision deals with wind load is IS 875(Part 3)- 1987 1893-2002 and IS 13920-1993 Non structural elements inside the building such as The non structural elements such as glazings, claddings furnitures, storage racks etc can cause damage when a etc may get damaged when a structure is subjected to structure is subjected to seismic load since it has mass wind load and less stifness The sesmic force can be artificially generated using a The wind effects can be artificially modelled in wind tunnels shake table The seismic force will depend on the focus of The wind force will depend on terrain and topography of earthquake and ground conditions through which the the location wave travels The duration of wind load varies from minutes to even The duration of seismic force varies from a few hours (cyclone) and the warning will be there before it seconds to minutes and we will not get any warning hits The area affected by seismic force is large The area affected by wind force is comparitively low (Except cyclones)

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The prediction of seismic sesmic event is only The formation of storms can be predicted accurately probablistic

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Case Studies: Failures due to Seismic Force

Case Studies: Failures due to Wind Force

Fig. Failure dute to liquifaction during earthquake

Fig. Failure of canopy due to wind in Malasia

Fig. Failure of bridge during earthquake

Fig. Failure of roof truss due to wind- Malasia

Fig. Failure of road during earthquake

Fig. Failure of Tacoma Narrow bridge due to wind