Effect of Diaphragm Discontinuity on the Seismic Response of an RC Building

Although rigid floor diaphragm is a reasonable assumption for seismic analysis, certain building configurations may exhibit diaphragm flexibility. Detailed investigations have been carried out on modelling of flexible diaphragms compliant with various codes such as ASCE-07 and UBC 1997. Studies have shown that diaphragm flexibility amplifies both the deformation and the shear in the diaphragm. However, additional studies are essential to assess the magnitude of such amplification and to account for it in the design. The methodology is outlined by three major elements such as the choice of building models, the adopted method of analysis and the parameters studied. Buildings with large cut-outs and openings are observed to exhibit flexible behaviour. These models are analysed dynamically using a site-specific response spectrum developed from probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for Mangalore region (a coastal city in Karnataka, Southern India). The analysis is carried out using a G+10 RC building. The effect of percentage of openings in the diaphragm is studied using structural parameters such as storey drift, base shear and storey displacement with the help of ETABS 2015 software, and the optimum shape for these openings in a building plan is finalized. Further, time history analysis is performed over the models, and the results obtained through response spectrum and time history analysis are compared. The study highlights the importance of diaphragm flexibility in determining the seismic response of a building. This flexibility causes significant increase in the building period, which results in reduction in the earthquake-induced base shear. Since the seismic input used for the study was developed for the moderate seismic zone, the outcomes of this investigation are believed to have vast applications.