Impact Stiffness in Structural Collisions between Non-linear Systems accounting for the Seismic Effect: Parametric Variation

Abstract

One of the phenomena observed in moderate to severe seismic events, is that of structural impacts between adjacent buildings. These collisions generate forces that can lead the building structures to limit states not considered in the design phase. Thus, this paper seeks to study the influence of a parameter of contact elements, the impact stiffness, performing a significant number of simulations of two adjacent buildings under earthquake-induced structural pounding, with non-linear behavior and substantially different dynamic properties, and represented by simple one-degree-of-freedom models. The seismic effect is considered through the adjustment of three real seismic signals to a response spectrum characterizing a seismic region of Portugal. It appears that the flexible structure is more sensitive to variations in the impact stiffness. The seismic effect is marked by the variability in the flexible building responses in terms of displacements and velocities.