THE RESPONSE

SPECTRUM
A Technical Seminar on the Development and
Application of the Response Spectrum Method for
Seismic Design of Structures





The University of British
Columbia
Woodward 2, IRC Building

PRESENTED BY:
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Vancouver Section

SPONSORS
UBC Department of Civil Engineering
The Vancouver Structural Engineers Group Society

CO-SPONSORS
Canadian Society of Earthquake Engineering
ACI BC Chapter
Canadian Institute of Steel Construction
BC Region Cement Association of Canada
Consulting Engineers of BC
APEGBC Division of Structural Engineers
V G t h i l S i t
THE RESPONSE
SPECTRUM
A Technical Seminar on the Development and
Application of the Response Spectrum Method for
Seismic Design of Structures





June 1
st
and 2
nd
, 2007
The University of British
Columbia
Woodward 2, IRC Building
PRESENTED BY:
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Vancouver Section

SPONSORS
UBC Department of Civil Engineering
The Vancouver Structural Engineers Group Society

CO-SPONSORS
Canadian Society of Earthquake Engineering
ACI BC Chapter
Canadian Institute of Steel Construction
BC Region Cement Association of Canada
Consulting Engineers of BC
APEGBC Division of Structural Engineers
Vancouver Geotechnical Society
Foreword

This seminar is intended for practicing structural and geotechnical engineers involved in the analysis
and design of a wide variety of structures and who are interested in the practical use of the response
spectrum as a design tool. The topics discussed in this seminar include the development and
application of the response spectrum method for seismic design of structures. The concept of the
response spectrum; how it is determined; the NBCC 2005 Uniform Hazard Response Spectrum
(UHRS) and the effect of site specific conditions on spectra are explained and discussed. A detailed
explanation of the fundamental concepts of structural dynamics, such as mode shapes and periods
that are essential to application of response spectra, is provided and illustrated by sketches and
animations of structural response. The application of response spectra for structural design is
focused on the NBCC 2005 and the BC Ministry of Transportation supplement to the Bridge Design
Code S6-06. Floor spectrum for equipment and building components is also discussed. A discussion
on the determination of ground motion time-histories for analysis that are consistent with the design
spectrum, a very important topic in engineering practice, is included in the program. Practical
aspects of response spectral analysis are described, by means of illustrative case studies of
representative low, mid and high-rise buildings and bridges.

The speakers in this seminar include well established professors from leading universities in North
America and experienced practicing engineers from engineering firms in Vancouver.

The organizing committee of this seminar is comprised of:
Carlos E. Ventura, P.Eng. (Chairman) UBC Civil Engineering Department
Max Bischof, P.Eng. Bisco Engineering Inc.
Liam Finn, P.Eng UBC Civil Engineering Department
Sharlie Huffman, P.Eng Ministry of Transportation
Surinder Parmar, P.Eng, British Columbia Transmission Corporation
Mahmoud Rezai, P.Eng EQ-Tech Engineering
J ohn Sherstobitoff, P.Eng Sandwell Engineering
Katherine Thibert UBC Civil Engineering Department
Dambar Tiwari, EIT. ND Lea Inc.

This seminar is presented by:
The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Vancouver Section (www.cscevancouver.ca)

This seminar has received sponsorship and endorsement from the following organizations:
UBC Department of Civil Engineering
The Vancouver Structural Engineers Group Society

Additional contributing co-sponsors to the seminar are:
Canadian Association of Earthquake Engineering, ACI BC Chapter, Canadian Institute of
Steel Construction, BC Region Cement Association of Canada, Consulting Engineers of BC
APEGBC Division of Structural Engineers, and Vancouver Geotechnical Society.

The cooperation of these organizations is greatly appreciated by the organizing committee.

Vancouver, 1 June 2007
DISCLAIMER

While the authors have tried to be as accurate as possible, they cannot be held responsible for the
designs of others that might be based on the material presented here. These notes are intended for
the use of professional personnel competent to evaluate the significance and limitations of its
contents and recommendations, and who will accept responsibility for the application of the material
it contains. The authors and the sponsoring organizations disclaim any and all responsibility for the
application of the stated principles and for the accuracy of any of the material contained herein.
INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF


Atkinson, Gail
Affiliation: UWO Earth Sciences
Phone No.: (613) 520-2600 ext. 1399
Fax No.: (613) 520-4490
e-mail: Gmatkinson@aol.com

DeVall, Ron
Affiliation: Read, J ones, Christoffersen
Phone No.: (604) 739-6270
Fax No.: (604) 738-1107
e-mail: RDeVall@rjc.ca

Finn, Liam
Affiliation: UBC Civil Engineering
Phone No.: (604) 822-2637
Fax No.: (604) 822-6901
e-mail: finn@civil.ubc.ca

Kennedy, Don
Affiliation: Associated Engineering
Phone No.: (604) 293-1411
Fax No.: (604) 291-6163
e-mail: kennedyd@ae.com

Little, Tim
Affiliation: BC Hydro
Phone No.: (604) 528-2464
Fax No.: (604) 528-1940
e-mail: Tim.Little@bchydro.bc.ca

Rezai, Mahmoud
Affiliation: EQ-Tech Engineering
Phone No.: (604) 724-5555
Fax No.: (604) 731-5381
e-mail: mrezai@eq-tech.com

Sherstobitoff, J ohn
Affiliation: Sandwell Engineering
Phone No.: (604) 844-1407
Fax No.: (604) 688-5913
e-mail: jsherstobitoff@sandwell.com

Trifunac, Mihailo
Affiliation: USC Civil Engineering
Phone No.: (213) 740-0570
Fax No.: (213) 744-1426
e-mail: trifunac@usc.edu

Ventura, Carlos
Affiliation: UBC Civil Engineering
Phone No.: (604) 822-6946
Fax No.: (604) 822-6901
e-mail: ventura@civil.ubc.ca
The Response Spectrum Technical Seminar Final Program


Time

Topic

Speaker

Lecture


Day One: Friday June 1
st
2007



07:45 to 08:30

Registration





08:30 to 08:40

Welcome and Introduction

Carlos Ventura



08:40 to0 9:20

Introduction to Response Spectrum

Mihailo Trifunac

1

09:20 to 10:00

NBCC 2005 Uniform Hazard Spectrum

Gail Atkinson

2

10:00 to 10:30

Coffee Break





10:30 to 11:10

NBCC 2005 Site Specific Response
Spectrum

Liam Finn

3

11:10 to 12:10

Application of Response Spectrum in
Structural Engineering

Carlos Ventura

4

12:10 to 01:15

Lunch



01:15 to 02:00

NBCC 2005 - Application of Response
Spectral Analysis for Buildings

Ron DeVall

5

02:00 to 02:45

S6-06 and MoT Supplement Application
of Response Spectral Analysis for Bridges

Don Kennedy

6

02:45 to 03:15

Coffee Break





03:15 to 04:00

Floor Response Spectrum

J ohn Sherstobitoff

7

04:00 to 04:30

Ground Motion Time-Histories Matching
Spectrum

Tim Little

8

04:30 to 05:00

Closing Remarks and Information on
Saturday Case Studies

Carlos Ventura
/Mahmoud Rezai




Day Two: Saturday June 2
nd
2007



08:30 to 09:30

1
st
Case Study: Response Spectral
Analysis of Low and Mid-rise Buildings

Mahmoud Rezai

9

09:30 to 10:30

2
nd
Case Study: Response Spectral
Analysis of High-rise Buildings

Mahmoud Rezai

10

10:30 to 11:00

Coffee Break





11:00 to 12:00

3
rd
Case Study: Response Spectral
Analysis of Bridges

Don Kennedy

11