SUMMARYA simplified model of several adjacent buildings in a block is used to study the pounding of such buildings due to strong earthquakes. Considerable structural damage and even some collapses have sometimes been attributed to this effect. Each structure is modelled as a S.D.O.F. system and pounding is simulated using impact elements. A parametric investigation of this problem shows that the end structures experience almost always substantial increases in their response while for 'interior' structures the opposite often happens. This may explain why high percentages of corner buildings have collapsed in some earthquakes.

SUMMARYThe response of adjacent buildings in city blocks to several strong earthquakes is analysed, taking into account the mutual collisions, or pounding, resulting from insufficient or non-existing separation distances. The buildings are idealized as lumped-mass, shear beam type, multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems with bilinear force-deformation characteristics and with bases supported on translational and rocking spring-dashpots. Collisions between adjacent masses can occur at any level and are simulated by means of viscoelastic impact elements. Using five real earthquake motions the effects of the following factors are investigated building configuration and relative size, seismic separation distance and impact element properties. It is found that pounding can cause high overstresses, mainly when the colliding buildings have significantly different heights, periods or masses. This suggests a possibility for introducing a set of conditions into the codes, combined with some special measures, as an alternative to the seismic separation requirement.

SUMMARYIn studies of earthquake-induced pounding between adjacent structures, spring-dashpot elements are often used to simulate the impacts. In this brief paper an equation is derived expressing the dashpot constant as a function of the coe cient of restitution, in terms of which inelastic impacts of colliding simple bodies have usually been described.