Base Shear

Base shear is an estimate of the maximum expected lateral force that will occur due to seismic
ground motion at the base of a structure. Calculations of base shear (V) depend on:

• soil conditions at the site

• proximity to potential sources of seismic activity (such as geological faults)
• probability of significant seismic ground motion
• the level of ductility and overstrength associated with various structural configurations
and the total weight of the structure
• the fundamental (natural) period of vibration of the structure when subjected to
dynamic loading

Base Shear - Uniform Building Code (UBC)

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):

V = Cv I W / R T (UBC Equation 30-4)

The UBC also specifies the following upper and lower bounds for V:

Upper bound: V < 2.5 Ca I W / R (UBC Equation 30-5)

Lower bound: V > 0.11 Ca I W / R (UBC Equation 30-6)

An additional lower bound applies in seismic zone 4 (major portions of California, as

well as regions in Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming):

V > 0.8 Z Nv I W / R (UBC Equation 30-7)

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).

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)

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 The importance factor is essentially an extra safety adjustment used to increase
the calculated load on a structure based on its occupancy and/or function.
Essential facilities (such as hospitals, fire and police stations, etc.) and facilities
that house toxic or explosive substances have higher seismic importance factors
(I = 1.25) than other structures (I = 1.0). Higher importance factors are intended
to insure that structural integrity is not compromised and important facilities
remain operational during emergencies and natural disasters. Based on typical
occupancy classifications for most wood structures, wood buildings are frequently
designed using an importance factor of unity (I = 1.0).

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).

T = fundamental (natural) period of vibration for a structure

The UBC provides the following simplified method for estimating T based on the
height of the structure (hn):

T = Ct (hn)3/4 (UBC Equation 30-8)

where Ct = 0.02 for wood structures

hn = height of the top level of a structure (ft)

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.

R= ductility and overstrength factor (see UBC Table 16-N)

The R factor is intended to account for inelastic structural behavior and the
ability of a structure to displace/deform and dissipate energy without
failing. Since all Rfactors specified in UBC Table 16-N are greater than
unity (R > 1.0), the R factor effectively reduces the calculated base shear
(V) by varying amounts depending on the ductility of a structure. In
general, ductile structural systems should have higher R factors than brittle
structural systems. Typical values of R for many low-rise wood structures
are:

• R = 5.5 for light frame wood buildings with shear walls that
support gravity loads and simultaneously resist lateral loads in
structures less than 4 stories high

• R = 4.5 for light frame wood buildings with shear walls that
support gravity loads and simultaneously resist lateral loads in
structures more than 3 stories high

The following additional R factors also apply to wood structures, but are
associated with less commonly used structural systems:

• R = 6.5 for light frame wood buildings less than 4 stories high in

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 which the frame system supports gravity loads independently of
the shear panels that resist lateral loads

• R = 5.0 for light frame wood buildings more than 3 stories high in
which the frame system supports gravity loads independently of
the shear panels that resist lateral loads

• R = 5.6 for heavy timber braced frames in which the frame system
supports gravity loads independently of the bracing that resists
lateral loads

• R = 2.8 for heavy timber braced frames in which bracing supports

gravity loads and simultaneously resists lateral loads

Cv and Ca are seismic coefficients associated with structural sensitivity to the velocity and
acceleration (respectively) of seismic ground motion. Cv and Caare based on the
geographic location of the structure (seismic zone) and soil conditions at the site. Values
for Cv and Ca are specified in UBC Tables 16-R and 16-Q.

The additional lower bound for calculating base shear (V) in seismic zone 4 includes
factors associated with the magnitude of peak ground acceleration (Z) and proximity to
known sources of seismic activity (Nv). Values for Z and Nv are provided in UBC Tables
16-I and 16-T.

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 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:

hx is the height from the base of the structure to level x

wx is the portion of the building weight assumed to be “lumped” at

level x. wx typically includes the total weight of the floor or ceiling/roof system at
level x, plus half the weight of the vertical elements (walls; columns) located
immediately below level x and half the weight of the vertical elements located
immediately above level x.

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:

Ft = 0 when T < 0.7s

Ft = 0.07 T V when 0.7s < T < 3.57s (UBC Equation 30-14)

Ft = 0.25 V when T > 3.57s

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.

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 UBC Simplified Lateral Forces

An alternate (simplified) procedure can be used to determine the base shear, V, and
story forces, Fx, for low-rise, “standard occupancy,” light frame wood structures that
are 3 stories or less in height (see UBC 1629.8.2, 1630.2.3, and Table 16-K):

V = 3 CaW/ R (UBC Equation 30-11)

Fx = 3 Cawx / R (UBC Equation 30-12)

This simplified procedure eliminates explicit consideration of the natural (fundamental)

period of structural vibration, T, and the height to each floor level, hx, when calculating
base shear, V, and story forces, Fx. Furthermore, the extra force at the top of the
structure, Ft, for approximating the effects of complex structural vibrations is not
considered in the simplified methodology.

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:

 Building weight distributed in equal proportions to the

1st level, 2nd level, and 3rd (roof) level of the structure
(w1 = w2 = w3 = W/3), and

 Equal distance (height) between each level of the

structure
(h1 = h; h2 = 2h; h3 = hn = 3h).

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)

 33% of the base shear at the 2nd level of the structure

(F2 = V/3)

 17% of the base shear at the 1st level of the structure

(F1 = V/6)

Alternatively, solving UBC Equation 30-12 for the simplified lateral force at each
level results in:
F1 = F2 = F3 = V/3