Study on Impact Between Adjacent Buildings: Comparison of Codal Provisions

Abstract

Structures are being built very close to each other in metropolitan areas where the cost of land is very high. Due to closeness of the structures, they often collide with each other when subjected to earthquakes. Many studies have been carried out on separation distance between adjacent structures to mitigate pounding. Although some modern codes included seismic separation requirement for adjacent structures, some of them have failed in providing the appropriate minimum separation distance. In this paper, two linear single degree of freedom oscillators are used to study the impact force for five different ground motions ranging from 0.2 g to 0.8 g. The separation distance is calculated from the codal provisions of different countries. The separation distance between the two structures decreases, the amount of impact increases which is applicable when the impact time is same. It may also decreases when separation distance decreases. For structures having same period, no need to provide separation distance. The amount of impact depends on response of the structures at particular time, minimum space between the structures and velocity of the structures.