Design of an Earthquake Resistant Multi-Storey Building - Research Methodology Project

This research project can help to prevent collapse of new buildings constructed in earthquake prone areas and therefore it means a lot to me. The project has given me a chance to demonstrate my research, technical, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.

Student Name 1
CAREER EPISODE 2
[CE 2.1] INTRODUCTION
Project Title Design of an Earthquake Resistant Multi-Storey Building
Project Type Research Methodology Project
Semester Third semester
Degree Bachelor of Technology
Specialization Civil Engineering
University Deakin University
Company
Project Location 75 Pigdons Rd, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216
Project Start Date January 2017
Project Completion October 2017
Project Duration Three months
[CE 2.2] PROJECT BACKGROUND
[CE 2.2.1] Project Overview:
This career episode provides information about the project I conducted during my last year of
study at Deakin University as a requirement for partial fulfillment for the award of the degree in
Bachelor of Technology. This project helped me to learn how to conduct a research successfully
with minimal supervision. Part of the requirement of the course was to write a portfolio of our
research project. Ever since my childhood, I have heard stories, read and watched from different
sources buildings collapsing in case of an earthquake event. All along I have been thinking on
what can be done to improve the safety of buildings in earthquake prone areas. That was the
motivation for me having chosen to work on earthquake resistant building. My project involved
analyzing a building structure using seismic coefficient method and designing a multi-storey
building in an earthquake prone area manually and using STAAD PRO design software. In order

Student Name 2
to complete this project, I did a lot of research to understand seismic effects, earthquake
behaviors and failure mechanisms of buildings subjected to earthquake forces.
[2.2.2] Objective of the Project:
Earthquakes are natural disasters that cause catastrophic effects to people and the environment,
and huge losses of property and life. The main part of this project involved designing a five
storey earthquake resistant residential building. I had to start by examining earthquakes, their
behaviors and seismic effects. I also analyzed some buildings that failed or collapsed in the past
during earthquakes. I have used the information gathered to design a five storey residential
building that is resistant to earthquake forces. I did the first design using STAAD PRO software
and then the second design using the manual method and compared the results. Occurrence of
earthquakes is inevitable and therefore the best mitigation strategy is to design earthquake
resistant buildings. This involves designing building foundations, slabs, columns and beams that
are earthquake resistant. I analyzed the building I designed in STAAD PRO to establish if indeed
it was earthquake resistant.
[2.2.3] Team Organization:
I did this project to showcase my knowledge and skills of conducting a research and also to
demonstrate my understanding of all the other units I had studied in the course. I conducted this
whole project by myself. However, I got assistance from my project supervisor and other faculty
members. I also received immense support from the technical staff of civil engineering
department at Deakins University. All these individuals helped me differently towards successful
completion of the project. I submitted a weekly progress report to my supervisor during the
entire three-month period of the project.

Student Name 3
[CE 2.2.4] Distribution of the tasks:
I did this project during my last semester of last year of study and therefore had three months (12
weeks) to complete it. To make it easier for me to complete this project on time, I divided it into
seven chapters. I started with the introduction to earthquakes, followed by terminology and
seismic effects and behavior of earthquakes. I complete these three chapters in the first three
weeks and the chapters helped me to understand numerous aspects of earthquake forces and
seismic failure mechanisms. The next chapter was design concept where I examined relevant
design standards and guidelines for earthquake resistant buildings. It took me one week to
complete it. I then used seismic coefficient method and STAAD PRO software to design a five
storey residential building. I completed these two chapters in six weeks. The last chapter was
manual design of the building and it took me the final two weeks to complete.
[CE 2.3] ENGINEERING WORK CONDUCTED
There are numerous buildings that have collapsed in the past due to earthquake events. During an
earthquake, ground vibrations create inertia forces that travel to all parts of the building, from the
foundation to the roof, thus causing failure and collapse of the building. I started by investigating
seismic effects and failures mechanics of buildings in earthquake prone areas. Designing an
earthquake resistant building is quite complex because of the fluctuation of earthquake forces.
However, I chose seismic coefficient method, which is one of the common and most reliable
approaches, to determine design loads of the multi storey building. Components of earthquake
resistant buildings should be correctly designed to ensure that they are able to resist the predicted
earthquake forces. Therefore it is really important to use the most suitable concepts, methods and
tools in designing earthquake resistant multi storey buildings.

Student Name 4
[CE 2.3.1]
In this project, I focused on the design and analysis of a five storey residential building in an
earthquake prone area. Considering the numerous design and analysis concepts, methods and
tools that are available for the design and analysis of earthquake resistant buildings, I had to
choose the most accurate, flexible and reliable ones. That is why I chose seismic coefficient
method and STAAD PRO software. I used them to design and analyze the foundation, slabs,
columns and beams of the five storey earthquake resistant residential building.
[CE 2.3.2]
I have designed the five storey earthquake resistant residential building in STAAD PRO software
and also using the manual method. After designing the building, I analyzed it using the same
software to determine its ability to withstand earthquake forces. Table 1 below shows the lateral
design loads of the building at different levels whereas Figure 1 is the building structure.
Table 1: Lateral design loads
Level (m) Lateral load (kN)
3 4.88
6 93.38
9 43.92
12 78.11
15 120.83
18 115.21

Student Name 5
Figure 1: Building structure
[CE 2.3.3]
After designing the five storey earthquake resistant building in STAAD PRO and using the
manual method, I compared the results. The results obtained from the design of foundation, slab,
columns and beams were almost the same. Therefore the method and tools used for the design of
the five storey earthquake resistant buildings were accurate and reliable, and the design of the
building was sufficient to withstand earthquake forces in that area. Some of the results from the
STAAD PRO software and manual design are shown in Figures 2-6 below

Student Name 6
Figure 2: Beam design from STAAD PRO
Figure 3: Beam design from manual method

Student Name 7
Figure 4: Column design from STAAD PRO
Figure 5: Column design from manual method
These results show that seismic coefficient method and STAAD PRO are accurate and reliable in
designing multi storey earthquake resistant buildings. My supervisor has already assessed my
results and confirmed their correctness and consistency.
[CE 2.4] SUMMARY
This research project can help to prevent collapse of new buildings constructed in earthquake
prone areas and therefore it means a lot to me. The project has given me a chance to demonstrate
my research, technical, analytical, problem-solving and communication skills. I have applied my
engineering knowledge and skills to design and analyze a five storey earthquake resistant
building in accordance with applicable industry standards that are applicable to the industry. The
project has helped me to learn about the risks and vulnerability of buildings exposed to
earthquake forces. I have also learned new knowledge and skills of conducting a successful
research. Therefore the project has improved my professional research and problem solving

Student Name 8
skills. I strongly believe that the earthquake resistant building I have designed in this project can
help to prevent loss of property and life in case of an earthquake event in any part of the world.