Comparison of Structural Design actions Part 4: Earthquake Actions in Australia AS1170.4 – 1993 & 2007 (No. R897)

Abstract

This report investigates the differences between the old AS1170.4:1993 code and the new AS1170.4:2007 code and has examined the implications to building frame structural systems. The principles of seismic design and the advances in the field that lead to development of the new AS1170.4:2007 code [7] have been presented. A detailed comparison of the differences between the Layout, Notation, Factors and Calculation of the Design Base shear has been examined. The magnitude of the design base shear applied for all structural system types and for all sub-soil classes has been carried out. Graphs showing the percentage of seismic weight applied to structural systems for all the sub-soil classes have been included in Appendix A. To highlight the revisions and implications of the new AS1170.4:2007 code, analysis of a typical concrete building frame structural system with reinforced concrete shear walls has been carried out. A comparison of the calculation methods and the errors and discrepancies of analysis procedures has been carried out and presented.