Dear ,
I would like to ask many questions related to ASCE seismic provisions :
1) If I have a multi story building , and there are a two stories as a top roof . The seismic system for the building
is ordinary shear wall and last top roof floors ( two floors ) are carried by moment frame system .
Is it true that section 12.2.3.1 would not apply ?
2) Today , arguments started about the effect of masonry walls (Hollow Blocks) used for partitions in a buildings on the behavior of the building !
Partitions may effect time period of the structures , may cause soft story & weak story .... and most of the opinions are thinking that ASCE missed this point !
so , can you tell me if ASCE code took the effect of masonry partitions in a building especially that they are not modeled in our projects ?
3) If I have SPT soil test for 15 meter soil profile ( the boreholes are only 15 m ) and the soil report mentioned that the "Site Class is E" but I believe that in this case
ASCE would to assume Site Class D because soil profile is not 30 meter and the code may assume default site class for unknown soil properties !
what is your opinion ?
4) Do you think that structures controlled by torsional mode , shall be analyzed using nonlinear dynamic analysis ? or we
can use modal analysis (linear dynamic ) safely ?
5) Is it true that If the base shear from dynamic analysis is larger than base shear from ELF , no need to scale the force down ?
6) Is there any provision in ASCE that exclude the low rise building from seismic loads ?
I hope we can share our opinions
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Anas Dawas Aff.M.ASCE
Engineer
RAK
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