INVESTIGATING THE APPROPRIATE MULTIPLICATION FACTOR FOR SOFT STORY FLOORS IN LOW-RISE BUILDINGS: A CASE STUDY OF NBC BUILDIN

Abstract

Soft-Story Failure Mechanism In Buildings Can Be A Major Threat To Life And Property During High-Intensity Seismic Activity. This Study Aims To Assess The Behavior Of Soft-Story Buildings That Omit Infill Walls On Commercial Floors And Parking Zones. A Building As Per Nbc 201 And Nbc 205 Is Analyzed Through Pushover Analysis And Modal Analysis To Understand The Response Of Structures When A SoftStory Happens On Different Floors. Non-Linear Hinges Are Assigned To Structural Members, And An Equivalent Diagonal Strut Is Modeled To Account For The Consideration Of Infill Wall. The Impact Of Infill Walls On The Global Response And Behavior Of The Structure Is Discussed. The Study Found That Building Configuration Should Be Regular In Plan And Vertical Direction To Avoid Abrupt Variation In Story Stiffness, Causing Vertical Irregularities Leading To A Soft-Story Mechanism. The Design Multiplication Factor On Story Shear And Overturning Moment Is Suggested To Vary From 1 To 1.16 In Low-Rise Buildings. The Research Highlights The Importance Of Considering The Effect Of Infill Walls Under Seismic Action, And It Provides Insights Into The Behavior Of Soft-Story Buildings.