Chapter 1

1.1 Introduction
Seismic design involves designing
structures such that they can resist the
forces generated by earthquakes,
aiming to minimize damage and ensure
safety. Performance Based Design
(PBD) is an approach in which
structural design criteria are expressed
in terms of achieving a set of
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/ - Hamid Radmard Rahmani
performance levels. PBD advances Figure 1. Collapse of tall buildings during Taiwan in 2018
seismic design by focusing on reaching the specified performance goals rather than simply
following code criteria. Performance levels are Operational, Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety
and Collapse Prevention.

PBD is crucial for seismic-resistant design of reinforced concrete (RC) framed tall buildings,
particularly in earthquake-prone regions like Nepal. The extensive urbanization in the country and
the limited availability of land in cities to accommodate the large influx of people migrating there
is being managed through the construction of tall buildings. Tall buildings are those with height
greater than 50m, but less than or equal to 250 m (IS 16700:2017 Clause 3.14).

Structural design methods evolved from Working Stress Method (WSM), incorporating safety
factors for elastic limits, to Ultimate Strength Design (USD) emphasizing ultimate capacity. Then,
Limit State Design which introduces partial safety factors for loads and materials and PBD
targeting specific performance objectives across hazard scenarios. PBD addresses lack of explicit
performance in design codes, enables designers to assess extreme event performance, and allows
for the development of innovative, safer, and cost-effective solutions.

1
1.2 Problem Statement
Limit state and working state design methods have notable limitations, especially for regions in
high seismic zones like Nepal, which is categorized in seismic zone V. The limit state design
(LSD) method focuses on preventing structures from exceeding specific stress limits under
maximum expected loads, often leading to conservative and costly designs. The working state
design (WSD) ensures structures remain within elastic limits under normal loads but may not
address extreme events like major earthquakes effectively.

Nepal's location in seismic zone V, which indicates very high seismic activity, underscores the
need for a performance-based design (PBD) approach. PBD evaluates buildings based on their
actual performance during different earthquake scenarios and sets specific performance objectives,
such as ensuring immediate occupancy, maintaining life safety, or preventing collapse. Unlike
LSD and WSD, PBD focuses on how buildings behave under real-world conditions, allowing for
more efficient use of materials and ensuring better safety and resilience.

By adopting PBD, Nepal can achieve safer, more reliable structures that perform well under both
normal conditions and severe seismic events. This approach helps allocate resources more
effectively and enhances the overall resilience of the built environment, which is crucial in a high
seismic zone like Nepal.

2
1.3 Objectives
The general objective of this project is to design, evaluate and analyze tall concrete structures
using performance-based design approach ensuring their resistance to seismic activities as well
as considering cost-effectiveness and efficiency of such structures.

It is essential to achieve the ultimate goal of the project guaranteeing its validity in terms of
mathematical precision and real-world applications. Therefore, the project has following specific
objectives:

1. To analyze and design a tall Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) building using the
available design codes.
2. To learn about seismic performance design procedure based on national and international
codes and guidelines.
3. To learn the design process of seismic resilient building.
4. To learn about the effects of lateral loads (seismic and wind) on tall buildings.
5. To know about the ductile detailing provision of the tall buildings.
6. To learn the Finite-element (FE) based software for modelling and analysis of the
structures.
7. To perform pushover analysis and performance point evaluation.
8. To develop the structural drawings based on design results.
9. To compare various design approach (limit-state and performance-based) for tall buildings.

3
1.4 Scope of Work
Performance-based design is a modern engineering approach that customizes structural solutions
to meet specific performance goals rather than relying solely on standardized building codes. This
method becomes particularly valuable in situations where conventional design practices may not
adequately address unique site conditions, architectural preferences, or evolving occupancy
requirements. By employing advanced computational tools and simulations, engineers can
optimize structures for resilience, efficiency, and occupant safety across a range of potential
hazards and scenarios.

One notable application of performance-based design is in seismic-prone regions, where structures

face significant risks from earthquakes. By using this approach, engineers can accurately simulate
how a building would respond to seismic forces and tailor its design to ensure stability and
minimize damage. Similarly, in densely populated urban areas prone to high winds, performance-
based design allows engineers to predict and mitigate the effects of wind-induced motions on tall
buildings, ensuring both structural integrity and occupant comfort. Overall, the flexibility and
precision offered by performance-based design make it a valuable tool for creating safer, more
resilient structures in a variety of challenging environments.

Notable Projects Using PBD:

• Taipei 101, Taiwan

• San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, USA
• Stanford Hospital, California, USA
• Transbay Transit Center, San Francisco, USA
• The Gherkin, London, UK

4
1.5 Limitations
1. Time history analysis i.e., non-linear dynamic analysis will not be considered.
2. Considering the available seismic response spectrum curve.
Elastic spectrum will be used for preliminary design: to fix baselines sizes of structural
elements.
Inelastic spectrum will be used to check the performance levels that we fixed.
3. Structural components involving beams, columns, foundations (pile, mat), walls, slabs,
staircase, basement wall, lift wall, shear wall etc.
4. A very tall building (>80m) will not be considered.

5
Chapter 2
Literature Review
For many years, various structures all around the world are designed based on the guidelines that
are developed from force-based limit state method (LSM). The LSM based design principles don’t
consider expected performance level and seismic risk levels of the structures after earthquake
events. Structures designed on LSM based principles give high base shear, have high ductility
demand and don’t give actual performance of structure after seismic activities (Chaudhary et al.,
2016).

This led to the development of performance-based design (PBD) principles that are founded on
the premise that structural systems must meet specific performance objectives. Specific
performance expectations are set for the completed design, and processes are prescribed in
minimal terms. Performance-based design, therefore, reverses the design process by defining the
end goal as the starting point. The design is completed by demonstrating complying performance
through analysis, simulation, testing, or a combination.

The computational foundations of these approaches diverge significantly as well. Prescriptive

design relies on structural reliability methods focusing on capacity and demand, while PBD
employs risk assessment techniques that encompass hazards, vulnerabilities, and potential
consequences.

A further disparity lies in the treatment of design considerations. Traditional prescriptive methods
typically derive seismic hazard levels and acceptable structural damage from existing building
codes. Contrastingly, in PBD, these factors are integrated into the design phase alongside
anticipated consequences and uncertainties. Decisions in PBD hinge on achieving a desired
performance level rather than adhering strictly to predetermined codes.

Extensive research is being carried out all around the world to develop new theories and
methodologies for performance-based design. However, there is still a considerable amount of
experimental and analytical research that needs to be carried out to create a solid basis on which
the proposed method can be properly implemented in practice. Most of the research is done either
for short RC buildings, or for tall RC buildings designed as per American design codes based on

6
LSM design approach. The results from these studies have spoken in the favor of using PBD
approach for design of structures as they seem to have numerous advantages.

Goel et al. (2009) applied PBD approach to a 20-storey RC moment frame based on American
design guidelines ASCE-705 and ACI-318 for seismic resistance. According to them, the method
is advantageous for tall frames as lengthy iterative and cumbersome design can be neglected while
leading to excellent performance as targeted. As per their finding, the storey drift of the PBD
frames is evenly distributed over the height as compared with the baseline frames where
undesirable drift in lower storey is observed.

Research done by Chaudhary et al. (2016) on a four-storey building designed as per IS 456:2000
was analyzed for life safety performance level in SAP2000. The storey-drift analysis was done in
order to measure the structural damage with the help of pushover curve, compact spectrum curve,
performance point and plastic hinges as per FEMA 273. The storey drift requirement was found
to be satisfied for the building by FEMA 273. The building lied in the performance level of
immediate occupancy and life safety range specified by the values of base shear and structural
displacement. The consideration of multi-level seismic hazards and transparency of performance
objectives ensured better performance and minimum life-cycle cost.

Gil-Oulbe et al. (2020) conducted a performance based seismic design on a four-storey building
and concluded that it resulted in structures with better seismic load carrying capacity thereby
achieving the objectives of performance as well as economy. The building was found to satisfy the
acceptance criteria for immediate occupancy and life safety limits for various intensities of
earthquakes.

Various other researches have shown that the performance-based design approach for seismic
resistance is simple to apply and results in uniform levels of seismic risk. It also allows the design
for inclusion of foundation compliance, non-standard hysteretic characteristics and variation in
seismic intensity. Yet, performance-based design approaches may not be necessary for the
majority of structures. Moving forward, a potential solution could involve implementing dual code
approaches for structural design. Routine structures could adhere to prescriptive requirements by
default, while offering a performance-based option for those seeking to explore its advantages.

7
However, it's imperative that performance-based design processes gain acceptance as the standard
protocol for complex, high-value, and mission-critical structures such as hospitals, emergency
facilities, shelters, high-rise buildings, and iconic structures for safety, economy, innovation and
creativity.

Nepal is facing an extensive urbanization in city areas where there is a large influx of people and
less availability of land. The management of such cities can be done by the development of tall
buildings. However, Nepal is also in seismically active zone and the effect of seismic activities are
more severe in tall buildings. Also, the effect of wind load should be considered during the design
of tall buildings. Our aim is to conduct performance-based design of a tall RC building structure
in Nepal for seismic resistance using the domestically preferred IS codes.

Brief description for the guidelines used for the design are as follows:

IS 456:2000 for design of RC structure.

IS 1893-2016 for seismic considerations.
IS 13920 for ductile detailing of RC structures subjected to seismic force.
SP-16 handbook for column detailing in RC structure.
SP-34 handbook for design guidelines and detailing.
IS 875 Part-I for dead load analysis
IS 875 Part-II for live load analysis
IS 875 Part-III for wind load analysis
IS 875 Part-IV for snow load analysis
Other guidelines include IIT design principles, books by A.K. Jain, N. Krishna Raju and so on.

In conclusion, the evolution from prescriptive, force-based design methods to performance-based

design principles marks a significant shift in seismic engineering. Performance-based design not
only considers specific performance objectives but also integrates risk assessment techniques,
offering a more comprehensive approach to structural resilience. Research findings consistently
highlight the advantages of PBD, showcasing its ability to ensure better seismic performance and
minimum life-cycle costs. While the implementation of PBD may not be necessary for all
structures, its adoption as the standard protocol for complex, high-value, and mission-critical
structures is imperative for ensuring safety, economy, innovation, and creativity. Particularly in

8
regions like Nepal, which face extensive urbanization and heightened seismic risks, the adoption
of performance-based design offers a promising path towards constructing tall buildings that can
withstand the challenges of seismic activity. By leveraging domestically preferred IS codes and
incorporating guidelines for seismic considerations, we can apply performance-based design
principles in seismic-resistant structures, ensuring safety and economy.

9
Chapter 3
3.1 Theoretical Background
In the design of seismic-resistant reinforced concrete (RC) framed tall buildings using a
performance-based approach, several formulas and principles should be applied. The key steps and
formulas involve the calculation of seismic demands and capacities, as well as evaluating the
performance of the building under seismic loads. Here's a summary of the fundamental formulae
and concepts to be used:

1. Base Shear Calculation

The base shear ( 𝑉𝐵 )is calculated as the sum of lateral forces applied at each floor level,
representing the total seismic force acting on the building. It is often derived using the fundamental
mode of vibration of the building:

𝑉𝐵 = 𝐴ℎ × W

Where:
𝐴ℎ = 𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 seismic coefficient.
W = Seismic weight of the building.
Horizontal Seismic Coefficient
𝑍𝐼𝑆𝑎
𝐴ℎ =
2𝑅𝑔
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒:
𝑍 = 𝑍𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 (𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑖𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑒)
𝐼 = 𝐼𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟(𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑢𝑠𝑒)
𝑆𝑎 /𝑔 = 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡(𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑡𝑦𝑝𝑒
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔)
𝑅 = 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

10
2. Distribution of Lateral Forces:
The lateral forces ( 𝑄𝑖 ) are distributed along the height of the building. These forces are applied
at each floor level and can be calculated as:

𝑉𝐵 ℎ𝑖2
𝑄𝑖 = 𝑛
∑𝑗=1 𝑊ℎ𝑗2

Where:
𝑄𝑖 = Lateral force at level ′ 𝑖 ′ . , ℎ𝑖 = Height of level ′ i′ from the base.
𝑊𝑗 = 𝑆𝑒𝑖𝑠𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑤eight at level ′ 𝑗 ′ .

𝑛 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑦𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠,

𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑.

3. Pushover Analysis:
Pushover analysis involves incrementally applying the distributed lateral forces until the structure
reaches a target displacement. The following steps are crucial:

Nonlinear Static Analysis: The structure is pushed laterally until significant inelastic behavior is
observed.

Capacity Curve: Plot the base shear ( 𝑉𝐵 ) versus roof displacement ( Δ) to obtain the capacity
curve.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/ - Domenico Lombardi

Figure 2. Stages of Plastic Hinge Formation

11
4. Plastic Hinge Formation
During the pushover analysis, plastic hinges form in structural elements (beams and columns) at
predefined locations. The moment-rotation relationship for a plastic hinge can be modeled using
empirical formulas or results from experimental data.

5. Performance Point
The performance point is found by intersecting the capacity curve (pushover curve) with the
demand curve (representing the seismic demand). The demand curve is typically represented as a
response spectrum.

• Capacity Spectrum Method

The Capacity Spectrum Method (CSM) is used to determine the performance point. This involves
converting the pushover curve into the spectral acceleration (Sa) vs. spectral displacement (Sd)
format and overlaying it with the demand spectrum.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/ - Md Mahmud Hasan Mamun

Figure 3. Schematic of Capacity Spectrum Method

6. Acceptance Criteria
The performance of the building is evaluated against predefined performance levels such as
Operational, Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and Collapse Prevention (CP). These
levels are defined based on the deformation limits of the plastic hinges.

12
7. Inter-story Drift
Inter-story drift is a critical parameter in performance-based design. The inter-story drift ratio
( θ ) can be calculated as:

Δ𝑖 − Δ𝑖−1
θ=
ℎ𝑖
Where:
Δ𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 Δ𝑖−1 = 𝐿𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦.
ℎ𝑖 = 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦.
In practice, the pushover analysis is conducted using structural analysis software like ETABS,
SAP2000, or similar tools. These programs can automate much of the calculation process and
provide detailed output on the performance of the building under seismic loads. The analysis
typically involves the following steps:

1. Modeling the Building: Creating an accurate 3D model of the building, including all structural
elements.

2. Defining Seismic Loads: Applying the calculated lateral forces at each floor level.

3. Performing Nonlinear Analysis: Incrementally increasing the lateral loads to simulate the
building's response.

4. Evaluating Results: Assessing the building's performance based on predefined performance

levels (e.g., operational, immediate occupancy, life safety, collapse prevention).

By integrating these formulas and steps, we can design RC framed tall buildings that meet specific
seismic performance objectives, ensuring safety and resilience during earthquake events.

13
3.2 Methodology

Figure 4. PBD Flow Diagram

14
Figure 5. Proposed Methodology Flowchart

15
Chapter 4
4.1 Expected Outcomes
The analysis and design of tall RC-framed buildings using a performance-based methodology with
a comprehensive understanding of how lateral loads, such as seismic forces and wind, affect the
structure. Comparison of Performance-based design (PBD) to traditional code-based design and
how it allows for more flexible, tailored solutions that meet specific performance objectives, rather
than merely adhering to prescriptive code requirements. The detailed consideration of ductile
detailing provisions, which are essential for ensuring that tall buildings can withstand and dissipate
energy during extreme events without catastrophic failure. Develop the ability to model and
analyze buildings using finite element (FE) based software which enables precise simulations of
building behavior under various loading conditions, providing insights into potential weaknesses
and allowing for optimization of the structural design.

16
4.2 Timeline

Duration (Weeks)
Methodology Jestha Asar Shrawan Bhadra
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Literature Review
Proposal
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Load Calculation
Preliminary Design
Detail Design
Structural Analysis
Detail Drawing
Documentation

17
 Duration (Weeks)
Methodology Jestha Asar Shrawan Bhadra Ashwin Kartik Mangsir Poush Magh Falgun
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Literature Review
Proposal
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Load Calculation
Preliminary Design
Detail Design
Structural Analysis
Detail Drawing
Documentation

18
 References
1. Dilip J. Chaudhari, G. O., 2016. Performance Based Seismic Design of Reinforced
Concrete Building. Open Journal of Civil Engineering, pp. 6,188-194.
2. BERTERO, R. D., BERTERO, V. V., & TERAN-GILMORE, A. (1996).
PERFORMANCE-BASED EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT DESIGN BASED ON
COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN PHILOSOPHY AND ENERGY CONCEPTS. Elsevier
Science Ltd, 611.
3. Chaudhari, D. J., & Dhoot, G. O. (2016). PERFORMANCE BASED SEISMIC DESIGN
OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDING. Open Journal of Civil Engineering.
4. Gil-oulbé, M., Al-Shaibani, F. A., & Lina, A. S. (2020). PERFORMANCE-BASED
SEISMIC DESIGN FOR BUILDINGS. Structural Mechanics of Engineering
Constructions and Buildings, 161-166.
5. GOEL, S. C., LIAO, W.-C., BAYAT, M. R., & CHAO, S.-H. (2009). PERFORMANCE-
BASED PLASTIC DESIGN (PBPD) METHOD FOR EARTHQUAKE-RESISTANT
STRUCTURES AN OVERVIEW. Wiley Interscience .

19