Analysis of a potential collision of buildings during earthquake based on computer simulation

In the cases when expansion joints between adjacent buildings are not sufficient, certain parts of the structure collide during earthquake. Then it comes to local damage or even destruction of parts of the building because of the impact forces of great intensity. In order to avoid collision, particular attention has to be paid to design of aseismic joints. In the paper, a parametric analysis of the potential collision of two multi-storey buildings is carried out by the use of software package SAP2000v15, with the goal to examine what occurs if the expansion joints have been designed in compliance with Serbian standards, and if yet there are collisions in some cases. The flexible base model in interaction with soil was designed. The accelerograms of real earthquakes were applied in dynamic analysis. Quantities of seismic forces, bending moments and axial forces in the case of collision, as well as necessary width of expansion joints to avoid it, were computed. Conclusions about influence of considered parameters on collision occurrence were accomplished. © 2014, Strojarski Facultet. All rights reserved.