Method for determining seismic gaps width of adacent structures subjected to earthquakes

Key words:  seismic gap  adjacent structures  period ratio  height ratio  maximum relative displacement  pounding

Abstract:

Because the width of seismic gaps demanded in the existing seismic design code in China is generally small and lacks theoretical supports, the pounding between adjacent buildings during ground motions may not be avoided completely. The maximum relative displacement between adjacent structures during earthquakes was studied. The effects of period ratio, height ratio were discussed. The maximum relative displacement for any height ratio can be calculated from the two cases that height ratio equals 1 and 0. Based on the conclusion, the method on calculating the maximum relative displacement of adjacent single degree of freedom ( SDOF) systems was proposed，and the width of seismic gaps can be also designed. The results by the method are close with those of time history analysis. This indicates that the method is accurate and can be used in the design of the seismic gaps between adjacent buildings.