Seismic Design Guidelines

This lecture covers the conceptual seismic design guidelines for buildings, emphasizing the importance of a simple structural system with regularity, symmetry, and continuity. It discusses the seismic behavior of structures, compact plan configurations, and the avoidance of soft storey mechanisms. The instructor presents rules for conceptual design, the significance of compact plan configurations, and the impact of asymmetrical horizontal bracing. The lecture also addresses the importance of avoiding openings in the plastic zone, providing alternative load paths, and separating adjacent buildings to prevent pounding. Furthermore, it explores the role of non-structural elements in building safety and the need to match structural and non-structural elements. The lecture concludes with a summary of design guidelines, stressing the cooperation between architects and engineers in achieving a robust behavior.