Enhancing Building Resistance to Differential Settlement with Canadian Seismic Design Provisions

Abstract

This research project focuses on evaluating the influence of Canadian seismic design provisions on the resistance of reinforced concrete buildings against the differential settlement of their foundation. Three types of moment-resisting frame buildings located in Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto were designed in accordance with the latest editions of the [NRCC (National Research Council Canada). 2010. National building code of Canada. Ottawa: National Research Council Canada]. The buildings in each location were designed for three span lengths, namely, 4, 6, and 8 m. A total of nine finite-element models were developed using SAP2000 version 20 with structural element nonlinearity being represented through plastic hinges at the ends of beams and columns. A nonlinear analysis was performed on each model by gradually subjecting a center column to a settlement of 100 mm. The analysis reveals that buildings with a shorter span (e.g., 4 m) length are more vulnerable to settlement-induced damage than buildings with longer spans (e.g., 8 m). Failure of the settling column occurs at settlements that exceed the range of maximum allowable differential settlements prescribed in the Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual.