Understanding Secondary Damages due to Non- Structural Elements in High-rise Buildings

Abstract

In the present scenario of building construction world-wide, there is a significant increase in the cost percentage of non-structural elements compared to overall building cost. However, in some cases during past earthquakes, where the main structure suffered minimal damage, it was noticed that there were severe problems in the functionality of building and also sometimes leading to injuries & life loss. It is observed that significant percentage of population is injured due to overturning of objects such as furniture. This problem is attributed mainly to the behavior of non-structural elements which are not designed taking into account their seismic performance. The aim of this study is to analyze the behavior of a rigid body i.e. a NSE, particularly the toppling behavior under the action of seismic forces. A linearized solution for the dynamic equation of motion of the rigid body is obtained. The results are obtained in the form of angle of rotation of body against time, providing limits of safety of the NSE against toppling under applied seismic loading. A transformer has been modelled to illustrate the same. Also a tool has been generated using python scripts to graphically simulate the behavior of nonstructural elements under earthquake loading, by placing NSEs in different floors. This tool helps us in identifying whether the NSE will slide, rock or topple when subjected to certain seismic loading and provides the limits of safety for the same.