POUNDING EFFECTS IN ADJACENT RC BUILDINGS AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS OF SEISMIC JOINT

Abstract

Pounding of adjacent buildings have been great problem and many buildings either have badly damaged or collapsed due to pounding during the past earthquakes. In urban areas many buildings have been constructed close to each other with total disregard to earthquake damage due to pounding during future earthquakes. In large size buildings or structures generally expansion gaps are provided to accommodate the thermal movement. These expansion gaps also become the source of pounding and thereby resulting in damage/collapse of the structure. This thesis looks into the important issue of separation of adjacent buildings and effect of this on the behaviour of the structure. Also to understand the phenomenon of pounding of adjacent buildings, impact forces, performance of buildings and damage or collapse to the structures have been studied. Solution has been discussed for existing adjacent buildings with smaller gaps provided for thermal expansion. A comparison of worldwide codal provisions has also been studied and presented in tabular form. Based on this study useful recommendations for design of seismic joint have been given.