The Effect of Site Classification on Incremental Dynamic Analysis for RC Buildings without Seismic Provision in Penang

Malaysia has been long term subjected to far field from neighboring country and local earthquake although it is not located in the active fault region. Local soil condition or site classification may play a major role in the soil dynamic characteristic correspond to the tremors. This study is to evaluate the effect of site classification on seismic response to the non-seismic design existing RC buildings in Penang. Five types of moment resistance RC building with 3, 8, 12, 16 and 20 storey are evaluated by using Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA). IDA result show that the non-seismic designed RC frames behaved low ductility and collapse at relatively lower IDRmax which between the performance level of Immediate Occupancy, IO (1%) and Life Safety, LS (2%). 20 storey buildings give the highest IDRmax followed by 8 storey buildings for every type of site classification. This phenomenon is more obvious in harder soil (Class B) and the effect reduces in softer soil condition by observing the slope reduction of the IDRmax vs T1 curves.