Civil Engineering Association

Collapse modes of structures under strong motions of earthquake

Under strong motion earthquakes, structures receive various types of damage. The most fatal damage is the loss of lateral strengths of a structure. The loss of lateral resistance causes a total collapse of the structure due to the P−δ effect associated with the lateral displacements and the gravity loading. To eliminate such a collapse mode, to introduce into the ordinary stiff structure a flexible element which remains elastic is very effective. The flexiblestiff mixed structure can behave preferably in many aspects under strong earthquakes.