CAPACITY DESIGN OR EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

Earthquake resistant design doesn’t necessarily mean, analyze the structure for seismic loads and
design it accordingly to the reactions obtained from analysis. Earthquake resistant design can be
defined as, designing the structure and its elements to perform inelastically during actual
earthquake with sufficient degradation of strength and stiffness. The basis for earthquake
resistant design is to inhibit the failure of the structure due to inelastic bond and shear
deformations.
In seismic considerations, we accept high risks of damage to the structure than for other extreme
loads. Codes suggest the methodology to calculate the design earthquake forces which are far
lesser compared to the actual forces in the site.
Designers usually design the structures keeping the design strength of the material which is far
less (15 to 20%) compared to actual elastic or yield strength exhibited by the structure. Under
the loads which are more compared to that of design forces, we expect the structure to survive
by large inelastic deformations and energy dissipation corresponding to material distress.
It is observed with the time that the lack of strength to perform during actual earthquake forces
will not always result in failure or collapse of the structure, provided that the structural strength
is maintained without excessive degradation of strength and stiffness with increase of inelastic
deformation.
This makes the survival of the structure with repairable damages. This inelastic structural
response (ductility) has emerged as an important element or factor for seismic design.
The reality that all inelastic modes of deformation are not equally viable has become accepted
as some leads to failure while only some leads to perform well because of ductility.
Eg., Inelastic deformation should never lead to the brittle failure (bond and shear). Hence
required strengths for undesirable inelastic modes of deformation are to be amplified. Hence
shear strength must exceed the actual flexural strength to ensure that inelastic deformations
cannot occur in shear.
These observations have lead the design fashion to migrate to “CAPACITY DESIGN” approach.
Distinct elements of the primary lateral load resisting system are chosen and suitably designed
and detailed for energy dissipation under severe imposed loads. These critical locations where
energy dissipation happens are called plastic hinges.
These locations are designed for inelastic flexural strength and the shear failure is inhibited by a
suitable strength differential. The resisting actions from plastic hinges must be designed for
strength based on over strength (moment of resistance) rather than code specified strengths.
Philosophy:
1. The potential plastic hinge regions with in the structure in the primary lateral load
resisting system are identified.
2. These are designed to have dependable flexural strength practicable to required strength.
3. The un-desired modes of inelastic deformation or brittle failures

CAPACITY DESIGN SEQUENCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMES:

1. Design of beam for flexure

Beams are so proportioned such that their dependable flexure strength at selected plastic
hinge regions is as close as possible to the moments obtained from the loads. Usually
plastic hinge locations in beams are chosen to be at the face of columns

𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 𝑎𝑠𝑡 ∗ (0.87 ∗ 𝑓𝑦 ) ∗ (𝑑 − 𝑑 ′ )

2. Design of beam for shear

Inelastic shear deformation does not exhibit the prerequisites of energy dissipation, shear
strength at plastic hinge regions designed to be higher than the shear corresponding to
flexural over-strength at the plastic hinge regions.

𝑀𝑂𝐴 + 𝑚𝑂𝐵
𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 = 𝑉𝑔 + (𝐴𝐹 ∗ ( ))
𝑙𝐴𝐵

Where,
𝑉𝑔 = 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑠
𝐴𝐹 = 𝐴𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
𝑀𝑂𝐴 , 𝑀𝑂𝐵 = 𝐹𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚
𝑙𝐴𝐵 = 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚

3. Design of column for P-M interaction

Usually, joint equilibrium and possible higher modes of structural response are used to
determine the maximum feasible column moments corresponding to beam flexural over-
strength. This is to ensure strong column and weak beam philosophy. Usually, in capacity
design, the moment capacity of the column should be 1.5 times more compared to the
moment capacity of beams at beam-column joint.
 ∑ 𝑀𝑐,𝑖 𝜙𝑏
≥ 𝜙𝑂
∑ 𝑀𝑏,𝑖 𝜙𝑐
Where,
∑ 𝑀𝑐,𝑖 , ∑ 𝑀𝑏,𝑖 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠, 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦
𝜙𝑂 = 𝑂𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 1.25
𝜙𝑐 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛𝑠 = 0.75
𝜙𝑏 = 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 0.9
4. Design of column for shear

Determination of transverse or shear reinforcement in columns is based on equilibrium

consideration of flexural over-strength of beams at beam-column joint.
This transverse reinforcement should be provided on the basis of confinement of
compressed concrete, stability of compression reinforcement and lapped bar splices.

5. Design of beam – column joint

Beam-column joints are most poor sources of energy dissipation. Hence care should be
taken to inhibit the inelastic deformations due to shear and bond strength.
The ideal strength of joints is matched to the input from adjacent beams when these
develop flexural over-strength at the critical sections of plastic hinges.
 Design procedure for beams

1. Obtain the forces from analysis and assume the properties of design materials.
2. Design for flexure,
a. Calculate limiting bending moments and compare with factored bending moment
to check whether singly or doubly reinforced
b. Determine the amount of tension and compression steel to be reinforced in the
beam
c. Calculate the amount of steel obtained should not be less compared to minimum
steel specified by codes
3. Design for shear,
a. Calculate the shear demand due to plastic hinge formation
b. Determine the design shear (max of shear from elastic analysis and shear due to
hinge formation)
c. Determine the nominal shear stress. Redesign the section if the nominal shear
stress value exceeds the value of maximum permissible shear stress in concrete
as prescribed by the code
d. With the provided percentage of steel, determine the value of design shear
strength of concrete
e. Determine the amount of transverse reinforcement as per respective code
f. The shear reinforcement calculated should not be less than minimum shear
reinforcement as prescribed by codes.
 Design procedure of columns

1. Obtain the reactions from analysis and assume the properties of materials.
2. Assume a percentage of steel and determine the capacity moments for column in both
directions from P-M interaction curves.
3. Check the safety of column for major and minor moment interaction. If the interaction
value is greater than unity, then change the percentage of steel and repeat the procedure
units the interaction value is less than unity.
4. Determine the value of moment capacity against the least axial load expected on the
column.
5. Calculate the ration of flexure capacity of column (determined in point 4.) to the flexure
capacity of the beams at beam-column joint. If the ratio is less compared to 1.1 (as
prescribed by IS 13920) then increase the amount of steel and repeat the procedure till
the ratio exceeds 1.1
6. Design for shear,
a. Calculate the shear demand in columns due to plastic hinge in beams.
b. Determine the design shear value (max of factored shear from analysis and shear
due to plastic hinges)
c. Determine the nominal shear stress. Redesign the section if the nominal shear
stress value exceeds the value of maximum permissible shear stress in concrete
as prescribed by the code
d. With the provided percentage of steel, determine the value of design shear
strength of concrete. The shear strength may be amplified as per the relation
prescribed by code
e. Determine the amount of transverse reinforcement as per respective code
f. The shear reinforcement calculated should not be less than minimum shear
reinforcement as prescribed by codes.
 Design of beam-column joint

1. Obtain the reinforcement data provided the beams and columns connected the design
joint location
2. Determine the shear in column due to plastic hinge formation in beams
3. Determine the tensile forces in the adjacent beams due to ultimate failure of steel
reinforcement
4. Determine the joint shear

𝑉𝑗 = 𝑉𝑐𝑜𝑙 − 𝑇1 − 𝑇2

5. Determine the effective joint width

ℎ
𝑏𝑗 = 𝑏𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 +
2
Or,
𝑏𝑗 = 𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
Whichever is maximum
Where,
ℎ = 𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛

6. Determine the nominal shear stress at the joints

7. Determine the shear capacity of the joint

𝜏𝑗𝑐 = 1.5 ∗ 𝐴𝑒𝑗 √𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑛 4 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
𝜏𝑗𝑐 = 1.2 ∗ 𝐴𝑒𝑗 √𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑛 3 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑛
𝜏𝑗𝑐 = 1.0 ∗ 𝐴𝑒𝑗 √𝑓𝑐𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑗𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠

8. Calculate the ratio of joint shear capacity and nominal shear stress. The ratio should be
greater than unity, else change the size of the joint.0