The influence of spatial variations of mass eccentricities on the earthquake induced torsion in buildings

摘要

The influence of spatial variations of mass eccentricities on the earthquake induced torsion in buildings is investigated using both analytical and numerical modeling results. An analytical solution is proposed which identifies the optimum location of a key structural element for which the torsional response of a structure is minimized for any spatial variation of mass eccentricities. The numerical modeling results show that for any spatial variation of mass eccentricities the top rotations and base torques have an inverted peak, which indicates an optimum location of the key structural element, for which the torsional response of the structure is minimized. The results also demonstrate that by reversing the spatial distribution of mass eccentricities, the required optimum location of the key element is shifted to a symmetrical position with respect to its nominal location when no mass eccentricities are taken into account. The numerical modeling results verify the accuracy of the analytical solution with reasonable accuracy.