Cumulative damage effects of mainshock-aftershock sequences on RC-frame structures

Abstract

Frequent aftershocks often follow a strong mainshock. They can significantly increase cumulative damage to a structure. A model of a five-story reinforced concrete frame structure was designed and a nonlinear mathematical model of the structure was developed to investigate the damage states resulting from different mainshock-aftershock sequences. Mainshock-aftershock sequences consisting of one of three recorded mainshocks combined with one of five recorded aftershocks were created for input to the mathematical model. Inelastic energy dissipation and the Park-Ang damage index were used as measures of cumulative damage to the structure. The results demonstrate that consideration of only the single mainshock ground motion in seismic building design can result in the design and construction of unsafe buildings. Total cumulative damage to a structure is caused by the combination of damage states resulting from the mainshock and the aftershock(s).