Damage Reconnaissance and Seismic Response Prediction of an East Coast U.S. Building Subjected to 2011 Virginia Earthquake

Abstract

During the 2011 Mineral, Virginia Earthquake the Smithsonian Institute Museum Support Center (MSC) sustained considerable structural damage. An in-depth study was conducted to investigate the behavior of MSC during this earthquake and its potential implication on seismic risk of East Coast U.S. structures. The damage sustained by this building is documented and it is observed that the severity of damage is not uniformly distributed in the floor plan. A finite element model is created to perform the seismic response prediction using recorded ground motions in order to explain the cause of structural damage. A field vibration test was conducted to capture the dynamic characteristics of the building which are in turn used to calibrate the finite element model. Results from seismic analysis reveal that the main reason for seismic damage is local soil amplification and combined torsional and translational effects due to an eccentric floor mass distribution relative to the center of rigidity (CR) of the floor plan.

Seismic Fragility Analysis of the Smithsonian Institute Museum Support Center

“…As a result, there is one suite of ground motions for the Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) hazard level and another for the Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) hazard level. The soil profile (seeFigure 8) is the same as the one used inChu et al (2014) that results in a calculated response consistent with the observed damage. The USGS Uniform Hazard Response Spectra (UHRS) (Petersen et al 2008) for the DBE and MCE hazard levels, which correspond to a return period of 475 years and 2475 years, respectively, at the site of the MSC are employed as the target spectra in selecting the bedrock motions.…”

“…The 700,000 square feet zigzag-shaped complex is divided into three parts: the five "Pods"; five Offices; and an interconnecting corridor called the "Street" (Figure 1b). More information about the concrete structure can be found in Chu et al (2014). More information about the concrete structure can be found in Chu et al (2014).…”

“…The basis for Equation 8 is that the first mode of the structure is almost purely translational in the long direction while the second mode is torsional coupled with translation in the short direction (Chu, et al 2014).…”

“…Each floor mass weights 2,886.7 kips and is located 122.9 ft. from the south edge and 80.0 ft. from the east edge of the building. More details about the floor mass has been presented in Chu et al (2014).…”

“…More details about the floor mass has been presented inChu et al (2014). Each floor mass weights 2886.7 kips and is located 122.9 ft. from the south edge and 80.0 ft. from the east edge of the building.…”