CE 305 – PRINCIPLES OF
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
STRUCTURAL IRREGULARITIES
Engr. Aeron Quelvin Delos Santos
Civil Engineering Department, TIP MLA
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
❑ Analyze structures for presence of potential vertical structural irregularity
❑ Analyze structures for presence of potential horizontal structural
irregularity
WHAT IS A REGULAR STRUCTURE?
Characteristics of a regular structure
• The structure is simple.
• The structure is symmetrical.
• The structure is not too elongated in plan, or in elevation.
• The structure has continuous load transfer.
REGULAR VS IRREGULAR STRUCTURES
There is no universal rule which determine the ideal form of a structure to
resist earthquakes. However, guiding principles suggest that regular structures
will fare better in resisting ground motion.
REGULAR VS IRREGULAR STRUCTURES
Section 208.4.5 : Configuration Requirements
“Each structure shall be designated as being structurally regular or irregular in
accordance with Sections [Link] and [Link].”
Section [Link] : Regular Structures
Section [Link] : Irregular Structures
Table 208-9 : Vertical Structural Irregularities
Table 208-10 : Horizontal Structural Irregularities
REGULAR VS IRREGULAR STRUCTURES
Section [Link] : Regular Structures Section [Link] : Irregular Structures
Irregular structures have significant physical
discontinuities in configuration or in their lateral-
Regular structures have no significant force-resisting systems. Irregular structures
physical discontinuities in plan or vertical include, but are not limited to, those described in
configuration or in their lateral-force-resisting Tables 208-9 and 208-10. All structures in
system such as the irregularities described in occupancy Categories 4 and 5 in Seismic Zone 2
Section [Link] need to be evaluated only for vertical
irregularities of Type 5 and horizontal
irregularities of Type 1.
Structures having any of the features listed in
Table 208-9 shall be designated as if having a
vertical irregularity.
Structures having any of the features listed in
Table 208-10 shall be designated as if having a
plan irregularity.
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 1. Stiffness Irregularity – Soft Storey
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 2. Weight (Mass) Irregularity
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 3. Vertical Geometric Irregularity
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 4. In-Plane Discontinuity
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 5. Weak Storey Irregularity
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 1. Stiffness Irregularity – Soft Storey
A soft storey is one in which the lateral stiffness is less than 70% of that in the
storey above or less than 80% of the average stiffness of the three stories
above.
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 2. Weight (Mass) Irregularity
Mass irregularity shall be considered to exist where the effective mass of any
storey is more than 150% of the effective mass of an adjacent storey. A roof
that is lighter than the floor below need not to be considered.
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 3. Vertical Geometric Irregularity
Vertical geometric irregularity shall be considered to exist where the
horizontal dimension of the lateral-force-resisting system in any storey is more
than 130% of that in an adjacent storey. One-storey penthouses need not be
considered.
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 4. In-Plane Discontinuity in Vertical Lateral-Force-Resisting Element
Irregularity
An in-plane offset of the lateral-load-resisting elements greater than the
length of those elements.
VERTICAL IRREGULARITIES
Type 5. Discontinuity in Capacity – Weak Storey Irregularity
A weak storey is one in which the storey strength is less than 80% of that in
the storey above. The storey strength is the total strength of all seismic-
resisting elements sharing the storey for the direction under consideration.
EXAMPLE 1
For the structure shown, determine if there is any vertical irregularity present.
EXAMPLE 2
For the structure shown, determine if there is any vertical irregularity present.
EXAMPLE 3
For the structure shown, determine if there is any vertical irregularity present.
Shear
Pier
Contribution
1 20 kN
2 30 kN
3 10 kN
4 15 kN
5 80 kN
6 10 kN
7 15 kN
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 1. Torsional Irregularity
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 2. Re-entrant Corner Irregularity
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 3. Diaphragm Discontinuity Irregularity
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 4. Out-of-Plane Offsets Irregularity
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 5. Non-parallel Systems Irregularity
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 1. Torsional Irregularity – To be considered when diaphragms are not
flexible
Torsional Irregularity shall be considered to exist when the maximum storey
drift , computed including additional torsion, at one end of the structure
traverse to an axis is more than 1.2
times the average if the storey drifts
of the two ends of the structure.
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 2. Re-entrant Corner Irregularity
Plan configurations of a structure and its lateral-force resisting system contain
re-entrant corners, where both projections of the structure beyond a re-
entrant corner are greater than 15% of the plan dimension of the structure in
the given direction.
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 3. Diaphragm Discontinuity Irregularity
Diaphragms with abrupt discontinuities or variations in stiffness, including
those having cutout or open areas greater than 50% of the gross enclosed
area of the diaphragm, or changes in effective diaphragm stiffness of more
than 50% from one storey to the next.
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 4. Out-of-Plane Offsets Irregularity
Discontinuities in a lateral force path, such as out-of-plane offsets of the
vertical elements.
PLAN (HORIZONTAL) IRREGULARITIES
Type 5. Non-parallel Systems Irregularity
The vertical lateral-load-resisting elements are not parallel to or symmetric
about the major orthogonal axes of the lateral force-resisting systems.
EXAMPLE 4
A 4-storey building has a concrete wall
lateral-force resisting system configuration.
Check if any plan irregularity exists
between first and second stories.
EXAMPLE 5
A five-storey building has a bearing wall system located around the perimeter
of the building. Lateral forces are resisted by the bearing walls acting as shear
walls. The floor plan of the 2nd floor of the building is shown below. The
symmetrically placed open area in the diaphragm has dimensions of 12 m x 23
m. All diaphragms above the 2nd floor are without significant openings. Check
if any irregularity exists.
EXAMPLE 5
All diaphragms above the 2nd floor are without significant openings.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
✓ Analyze structures for presence of potential vertical structural irregularity
✓ Analyze structures for presence of potential horizontal structural
irregularity
END ☺