Response spectrum analysis of medium rise buildings subjected To a far-field earthquake

Normally in Malaysia, lateral force that is taken into consideration in design is
wind load. Tremors felt by Malaysians from the long distance Sumatran Earthquake on
the 26th December 2004 was a "wake up call" for engineers, architects, local authorities
and etc to accept the importance of understanding potential seismic hazard that can occur
to building and others structure.
Seismic loading requires an understanding of the structural behavior under large
inelastic, cyclic deformation due to inertial forces of the building mass induced by the
shaking of its foundation. The main problem caused by earthquake to building is
vibration. Thus, the damage on building is not caused by seismic ground motion but
internally generated inertial forces caused by vibration of the building mass.
Based on the simulation done using Staad-Pro sofuvare on standard school
building design in Malaysia due to Response Spectrum Acceleration of far-field
earthquake, this research conclude that our school building is still safe under far-field
earthquake loading.