Structure & Security Features Floating Columns of Buildings

Exploring the Effects of Floating Columns on Building Stability during Earthquakes

Abstract

The behavior of a building during earthquakes depends critically on its overall shape, size and geometry, in addition to how the earthquake forces are carried to the ground. The earthquake forces developed at different floor levels in a building need to be brought down along the height to the ground by the shortest path any deviation or discontinuity in this load transfer path results in poor performance of the building. Buildings with vertical setbacks cause a sudden jump in earthquake forces at the level of discontinuity. Buildings that have fewer columns or walls in a particular storey or with unusually tall storey tend to damage or collapse which is initiated in that storey. Many buildings with an open ground storey intended for parking collapsed or were severely damaged in India earthquake. Buildings with columns that hang or float on beams at an intermediate storey and do not go all the way to the foundation have discontinuities in the load transfer path.