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The UBC addresses the probability of significant seismic activity in various locations
by categorizing geographic regions of the U.S. as Seismic Zones 0 through 4 (See
UBC Figure 16-2). Seismic Zone 0 indicates a geographic location where no seismic
activity is expected to occur. Seismic Zone 4 indicates a geographic location with a
high probability of significant seismic activity.
The equivalent static force procedure in the Uniform Building Code (UBC 1630.2)
specifies the following formula for calculating base shear (V):
The UBC also specifies the following upper and lower bounds for V:
The upper bound value for base shear tends to govern for relatively stiff structures that
exhibit a small (short) fundamental period of vibration (T). The lower bound values for
base shear tend to govern for relatively flexible structures that exhibit a large (long)
fundamental period of vibration (T).
UBC Base Shear (continued)
The terms used to calculate base shear (V) in UBC Equation 30-4 are defined as
follows:
W = total seismic dead load of the structure (dead loads plus applicable portions of
some storage loads and snow loads, as specified in UBC 1630.1.1)
I = importance factor (see UBC Table 16-K)
Designers should note that the seismic importance factor (I) is not identical
to the importance factor for wind (Iw). Futhermore, the UBC provides two
distinct seismic importance factors - one (I) for the design of typical
structural systems/assemblies such as shear walls and diaphragms, and
another (Ip) for the design of critical elements that are attached to structures
and may need to resist large concentrated seismic forces (see UBC Section
1632 for more details).
For structures with flat roofs, hn is the distance from the ground to the
roof/ceiling system. For structures with sloped (pitched) roofs, hn may be
taken as either the height of the ceiling system above the ground or as
the mean roof height.
UBC Lateral Story Forces
Lateral forces that counteract the base shear, V, are assumed to act at each story level
of the structure. The magnitude of each story force,Fx, is determined from the
following formula:
(UBC Equation 30-15)
where:
Ft is an additional lateral force assumed to act at the top of a structure. This force is
intended to approximate the effects of higher modes of structural vibration. The
magnitude of Ft is determined based on the natural (fundamental) period of vibration
of the structure, T:
Since Ft = 0 when T < 0.7s, it is apparent from UBC Equation 30-8 that Ft = 0 for
buildings less than 114.5 ft tall. Thus, designers are not required to consider an
additional lateral force at the top (Ft) for most wood buildings.
UBC Comparison
In order to provide a comparison between the equivalent lateral force method and the
simplified lateral force method, consider a 3-story wood-frame structure with:
Since the total height (hn = 3h) of a 3-story wood structure will be less than 114.5 ft.,
this means that Ft = 0. As illustrated below,
solving UBC Equation 30-15 for the equivalent lateral force at each level results in
lateral force magnitudes of:
50% of the base shear at the top (roof) level (F3 = Fn = V/2)
Alternatively, solving UBC Equation 30-12 for the simplified lateral force at each
level results in:
F1 = F2 = F3 = V/3
UBC Diaphragm Forces
The seismic lateral force applied to the perimeter of floor or roof/ceiling diaphragms
at each level of a structure is determined as follows (UBC 1633.2.9):
The UBC also specifies the following lower and upper bounds for Fpx,
where wpx is the portion of the building weight assumed to be "lumped" with the
diaphragm at level x.
wpx is similar to wx used to calculate equivalent lateral story forces, Fx, but does not
include the weight of the shear walls that are aligned in the direction of the lateral
diaphragm force, Fpx, under consideration.
The diaphragm force, Fpx can be divided by the diaphragm length, L, perpendicular to the
direction of Fpx in order to determine an equivalent uniformly distributed
lateral diaphragm load applied to the edge (perimeter) of the diaphragm.