SEISMIC DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF MULTI STORY REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDINGS IN MALAYSIA

Buildings in Malaysia are usually designed and analysed without provisions and considerations for earthquake loadings and seismic effects on the structures especially for high rise structures. This disregard for seismic activities comes from the fact that Malaysia is not located nearby the Pacific Ring of Fire which is known as a region where a lot of volcanic eruptions and seismic activities are happening; it is then easily derived and established in practice that severe earthquakes are unlikely to take place and minor ones can be discarded or considered to have negligible effects on compromising the integrity of the structures. Recently however, the occurrences of several earthquakes in neighbouring countries like Indonesia, and the Philippines, even though relatively situated far away, have triggered a series of vibrations which were felt on some of the structures of the high rise buildings. As a measure to prevent or ensure those buildings from being structurally compromised or from failure by collapsing, seismic analyses will have to be considered by being incorporated in the structural design process philosophy of these structures. This paper will involve a dynamic analysis of existing structures of different heights subjected to the nominal or Design Basis Earthquake using provisions of the Eurocode 8 or the Indian Standard IS 1893-1: 2002 Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures. The buildings will also be tested to ground motion records scaled up appropriately. Suitable recommendations will be made based on the studies.