Motion based seismic design and loss estimation of diagrid structures

Abstract

Diagrids are becoming an increasingly popular structural system in high rise design and construction. Little research has been performed on the seismic performance of Diagrids and how it integrates with seismic loss estimation. A motion based design scheme can facilitate the seismic design of Diagrids with the ultimate goal of reducing upfront costs and repair costs. In this thesis we analyze Diagrids with varying locations, aspect ratios, diagonal angles, and motion design parameters to understand the relationship between the geometric design parameters of a Diagrid and the design costs and estimated losses. We use a static seismic design procedure and analyze various period estimation techniques to evaluate their validity when used with Diagrids. We develop a simple loss estimation scheme focused on interstory drift and content replacement. We then analyze which Diagrids are most cost effective for a given set of design parameters, and briefly discuss additional methods of reducing seismic damage to buildings. Our analysis uses Matlab and Microsoft Excel for the development of our analytical models and for the manipulation and organization of data. Keywords: Diagrid Structures, Seismic Design, Seismic Damage, Loss Estimation