Seismic performance of deficient reinforced concrete frames in developing countries: a case study in Ramallah city

Buildings in developing regions with moderate to high seismicity are more vulnerable to earthquakes. This increased vulnerability is primarily due to the lack of appropriate seismic design guidelines and limited control of construction technologies. This study investigates the design of reinforced concrete (RC) frames in Ramallah city, West Bank, Palestine, identifies their structural deficiencies, and examines the impact of traditional construction technologies on their seismic behavior. The actual response modification factor (R) and ductility ratios were calculated considering local construction skills and construction technologies. Furthermore, a performance-based method was employed to verify whether these frames comply with the anticipated performance outlined by the design standards. Twelve two-dimensional building models were developed and analyzed using nonlinear static analysis to determine the R factors and ductility ratios. The coefficient method (CM) was employed to evaluate the buildings' performance during the considered seismic event and their compliance with the SEI/ASCE 7 (SEI/ASCE7. Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures (Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures). 2016) and ACI318 (ACI-318-14: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary. ACI-318, 2014) design performance objectives. The findings revealed that most frames exhibited ductility factors lower than those assumed in the design process, indicating subpar performance and inadequate seismic design. Structural deficiencies and building height adversely affect performance, resulting in reduced ductility. Furthermore, buildings with stone-concrete or masonry-concrete infills exhibit compromised ductility and plastic strain energy capacity while enhancing strength and stiffness. The study highlighted that most frames failed to meet the life safety performance level required under design seismic events.