The Impact of Bracing Type on Seismic Response of the Structure on Soft Soil
Yassine Razzouk, Mohamed Ahatri, Khadija Baba, Ahlam El Majid
Abstract
Building in civil engineering usually involves a lot of expertise and knowledge, especially when working with soft soil, which is infamous for being cohesive due to its low shear strength and consequently unstable under its geotechnical conditions. This is why extra care must be taken while researching how a building constructed on soft ground will behave during an earthquake. In these situations, the bracing system, which is well-known for its beneficial effects for resistance against seismic loads, must be thoroughly investigated and its selection must be reasonable and wise. In this perspective, we studied several models by changing the two most used types of bracing (columns and shear walls) while modifying the height of the buildings (3-6-9 and 12-story) using Etabs software. We then optimized the buildings in order to choose the optimal option for each case. Global displacements, inter-story displacements and structural mass were checked and compared. Following model validation and outcome analysis, we came to the conclusion that shear wall bracing would be advantageous for buildings taller than eight stories; otherwise, column bracing would be the better option. The outcomes of this study can be used to strengthen regulations, and as a guide for designers.