Comparative Seismic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Buildings with Varied Geometry of Structural Members

Reinforced concrete (RC) buildings are nowadays commonly used in earthquake regions. However, their seismic performance can vary depending on the geometry and arrangement of structural elements. In this study, the effects of beam, column, slab and shear wall designs on the seismic behavior were examined. The analysis of eight RC building models was done according to the 2018 Turkish Seismic Code by using SAP2000. The dynamic analyses were conducted in order to evaluate: shear forces, inter-story drift, natural vibration periods and required displacements. The results show that even slight geometric modification can have a significant impact on the stiffness, ductility and seismic response of the structure. These analyses helped us to highlight how crucial it is to select the appropriate element geometry in order to increase seismic resilience and design buildings that are more compliant with current standards.