Influence of site amplification of seismic ground motions on forces in building structures

The results for nine sites with different characteristics subjected to earthquakes of varying intensity and frequency content are presented in the form of base shear coefficients, base shear coefficient ratios (surface to rock), and foundation factors. They indicate that large amplifications can be expected at structural periods close to the site periods, especially for low intensity excitation. Comparisons are made with the provisions of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) 1990. They show that, depending on the site and the nature and level of the excitation, the expected base shear can be well in excess of the values specified by the NBCC. Key words: seismic, design, code, soil, site, response, amplification, base, shear.