Non-linear strain rate analysis of earthquake-induced pounding between steel buildings

Past and recent earthquakes have shown that ground motions may cause severe structural damage to civil engineering structures. Earthquake-induced pounding between adjacent buildings has been identified as one of the reasons which intensifies damages. The aim of this paper is to show the results of the detailed nonlinear FEM analysis of earthquake-induced pounding between two steel buildings. The elastic - perfectly plastic material properties have been implemented in the numerical model. The influence of the strain rate effect on the structural response, by relating the yield strength with the strain rate, has also been taken into consideration. The results of the study clearly indicate that pounding may substantially influence the response of steel buildings during earthquakes. In the case of the analysis conducted, it resulted in reduction in the response of both structures and lead to yielding of the ground storey columns of one of the buildings. The results of the study also indicate that incorporation the strain rate effect in the numerical model may lead to considerable differences in structural responses under ground motion excitation. ©2013 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.