Seismic Behavior of Flat Slab High-Rise Buildings in the New York City Area

Keywords: Residential Structures, Reinforced Concrete, Wind Induced Lateral Forces, Earthquake Resistant Design, High Rise Structures, Flat Slab Buildings, Seismic Activity, Shear, and Ductility.

Abstract: This report examines the seismic response of typical high-rise reinforced concrete residential structures. The findings are of importance in the evaluation of the inherent seismic resistance of such structures, designed only for wind-induced lateral forces, and in the evaluation on the effect of implementation of specific design requirements. The conclusions, based on the examination of two existing high-rise flat plate structures, show that although specific design parameters (drift, base shear, overturning moment) exceed those induced by static wind pressure, the inherent capacity of these structures may be sufficient to resist moderate seismic excitation if the structure satisfies wind drift design criteria.