Earthquake Resistance

Precast concrete can be designed to resist seismic events, and recent advance-
ments in connection approaches provide additional design options.

Earthquakes in Guam, the United States (Richter scale 8.1); Manila, the
Philippines (Richter scale 7.2); and Kobe, Japan (Richter scale 6.9), have subjected
precast concrete buildings, using both architectural cladding and structural com-
ponents, to some of nature’s deadliest forces. During the 1994 Northridge, Calif.,
earthquake (Richter scale 6.8), in which damage was estimated at $20 billion,
most engineered structures within the affected region performed well, including
structures with precast concrete components.

In particular, significant damage was not observed in precast concrete cladding

due to either inadequacies of those components or inadequacies of their con-
nections to the building’s structural systems, nor was damage observed in the
precast concrete components used for the first floor or first-floor support of resi-
dential housing. Parking structures with large plan areas, regardless of structural
system, did not perform as well as other types of buildings.

The key reason designers have gravitated toward precast concrete components
is because they can span long distances between attachments to the main struc-
ture. Design methods and details have been developed to accommodate these
applications in seismic areas.

Earthquakes generate horizontal and vertical ground movement. When the

seismic waves pass beneath a structure, the foundation tends to move with the
ground, while the superstructure remains in position. The lag between founda-
tion and superstructure movement causes distortions and develops forces in the
structure. As the ground moves, distortions and forces are produced throughout
the height of the structure, varying with the ground acceleration and the reso-
nance of the building.

Ductility Needs
The current philosophy for the design of earthquake-resistant structures per-
mits minor damage for moderate earthquakes and major damage for severe
earthquakes, provided complete collapse is prevented. The design details often
require large, inelastic deformations to occur to dissipate energy and shed inertial
forces. This is achieved by providing member and connection ductility.

While this ductility helps resist total collapse, the resulting distortions may lead
to significant damage to mechanical, electrical, and architectural elements.
Seismic damage can be minimized by setting limitations on structural deflections,
usually considered as interstory drift.

The response of a structure to the ground motion of an earthquake depends

on the structural system’s dampening characteristics and on the distribution of
its mass. With mathematical idealization, a designer can determine the probable
response of the structure to an imposed earthquake.

DESIGNING WITH PRECAST & PRESTRESSED CONCRETE 3H-9

 New Code Requirements
A number of changes have been made to existing codes in recent years based
on new research and observations. These include:

• Recognition of jointed-panel construction as an alternative to emulation of

monolithic construction.

• Achieving ductile structural behavior by using “strong” connections that

remain elastic while nonlinear action (plastic hinging) occurs in the member
away from the connection.

• Modification of drift computation and limiting drift.

• Deformation compatibility of structural elements and attached nonstructural

elements.

• Additional soil-type classifications.

• Special considerations for building sites located near seismic faults.

• Special considerations for structures possessing redundancy.

PCI has worked in several of these areas to help create new design solutions
that provide more effective responses to seismic events. A 10-year study by the
Precast Seismic Structural Systems (PRESSS) Research Program produced three
new approaches that have been or are in the process of being codified. These
three systems are:

1. A hybrid post-tensioned precast frame, which was codified in 1999.

Developed by the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), this
method has the precast concrete beams connected to multistory columns by
unbonded, post-tensioned strands that run through a duct in the center of the
beam and through the columns. Mild steel reinforcement is placed in ducts
at the top and bottom of the beam, which is sleeved through the column and
grouted.

The reinforcement yields alternately in tension and compression and pro-

vides energy dissipation, while the post-tensioning strands essentially act
as “rubber bands” that help right the structure after the seismic event ends.
There are no column corbels, with the vertical shear resistance provided by
the post-tensioning strand. The post-tensioning steel balances the mild steel
reinforcement so the frame re-centers after flexing during a seismic event.
.

The Paramount’s use of a precast hybrid, moment- 2. A pretensioned precast frame, which is applied at locations where the most
resisting frame as part of its structural system is that
it creates a restoring force provided by its elastic,
economical connection method features one-story columns with multispan
post-tensioned strands that rights the building beams. The multispan beams are cast with partially debonded pretensioning
following a seismic event. Architect of Record: Kwan
Henmi, Architecture/Planning; Photo: David Wakely
strand set on the columns. The column’s reinforcing steel extends through the
Photography. sleeves inside the beams. Reinforcing-bar splices ensure continuity above the

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 beam. As the frame displaces laterally, the debonded strand remains elastic.
While the system dissipates relatively less energy than other systems, it re-
centers the structure after a major seismic event.

Although this frame has performed satisfactorily in tests, it would not be

allowed to act as the sole seismic-force-resisting system in regions of high
seismic risk or for structures assigned to high seismic-performance or design
categories under Section 21.6.3 of ACI 318.

Such frames can be designed to satisfy all requirements for use as interme-
diate moment frames. These frames should also be acceptable for intermedi-
ate moment frames when designed using the same factors as those specified
in the governing building code for cast-in-place concrete construction.

Analyses are still being done to verify the applicability of this system to
various high seismic events. In the interim, the satisfactory performance of
the frames in the PRESSS tests can be used to seek building-department
approval for these designs in moderate seismic-risk zones and for structures
A moment-frame beam form illustrates the center PVC assigned to intermediate seismic performance or design categories.
duct that holds the prestressing tendons and the six
corrugated tubes for the mild steel bars used in the
hybrid system.
3. A shear-wall system. The PRESSS shear-wall design used an innovative
approach for anchoring and connecting jointed walls to lengthen the struc-
tural period and reduce the design-based shear forces. Gravity loads were
mobilized to partially resist overturning from the lateral ground motions. The
system also considered the behavior of the jointed shear-wall system when
the wall lifts off and rocks, along with its effect on design forces. An important
level of hysteretic damping was added to the wall system through the connec-
tion devices located at the vertical joint between the wall panels.

U-shaped flexure plates were used for vertical joint-connection devices

where damping was achieved with flexural yielding of the plates. Unbonded
post-tensioning forces re-centered the wall system when the load was
removed, so there would be minimal residual drift after a design-level earth-
quake. Re-centering was ensured by relating the elastic capacity of the post-
tensioning system to the yield strength of the panel-to-panel connection.

The shear wall is expected to displace laterally to approximately 2% of story

drift under a design-level earthquake. This is consistent with the drift limits
specified by existing standards. Should the designer desire smaller design-
story drift or less energy dissipation, the balance of post-tensioning and
energy-dissipating connections could be altered.

This shear-wall design and test has led to the adoption of an allowance for
nonemulative design of special precast concrete shear walls to be accepted
Rigorous tests performed on an experimental structure
proved the success of the PRESSS program’s
for the 2003 edition of the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program
connection technology. (NEHRP) Provisions.

DESIGNING WITH PRECAST & PRESTRESSED CONCRETE 3H-11

 Contract Document Requirements
Many precast concrete buildings are designed by a team including the engineer
of record, the precast manufacturer’s engineer, and possibly a specialty engineer
retained by the manufacturer. It is the engineer of record’s responsibility to pro-
vide pertinent information on the contract documents so that others providing the
seismic design of the structure use the correct information for the location of the
project. The 2006 International Building Code indicates what these requirements
are in Section 1603.

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