Lateral force distribution on base-isolated structures under near-field earthquakes

In the current paper the accuracy of the International Building Code equivalent static method for base-shear distribution is evaluated to determine the response of seismically isolated structures under near-field earthquakes. For this purpose two-, three-, four- and six-storey building models are designed according to the equivalent lateral-response procedure for different elastomeric isolation systems of 2 s, 2·5 s and 3 s for periods of isolated structures and 6%, 8% and 11% for their damping ratio. Different lateral-force resisting systems such as ordinary steel moment frame, ordinary steel concentrically braced frame and ordinary reinforced concrete shear wall are employed as a superstructure and the effects of 13 near-field ground motions on vertical seismic force distribution, and the linear and non-linear properties of isolation systems are investigated. The results of the equivalent static procedure in vertical distribution of base shear are compared with results obtained from dynamic linear and non-linear analysis and the efficiency of their application is studied. Based on linear and non-linear dynamic analysis results of isolated structures, two new formulae are proposed for vertical distribution of base shear for the isolated structures under near field earthquakes. The proposed linear formula is based on the first mode shape of an isolated structure and the non-linear formula follows three first mode shapes which implies contribution of higher modes in more realistic non-linear analyses.