Comparison Of Seismic Provisions Of EBCS 8 And Current Major Builduing Codes Pertinent To The Equivalent Static Force Analysis

Abstract

A comparison of seismic ptovisions having relevance to the Equivalent Static Force (ESF) method of analysis according to current major building codys worldwide is presented. The codes compared include the latest two editions of the Uniform Building Code (UBC 94 and UBC 97), the International Building Code (IBC 2000), the European Prestandard (Eurocode 8, 1998), and the Ethiopian Building Code Standard (EBCS 8, 1995). The comparison is mady on the basis of the specified base shear coefficient, the vertical distribution of the base shear, the story shear and overturning moment, the considerations for torsion, P-delta effect, and the limitations on the story drift. Substantial differences are observed among the codes and even within different editions of a code, a good example being the UBC series. It is also shown that the most recent American codes like USC 97 and IBC 2000 exhibited drastic changes in the definition of the base shear coefficient and in other pertinent regulations as compared to the classical forms familiar to most users.