Analysis of ground motions recorded in Singapore

• Main Author: Ong, Darren Hanwen.
• Other Authors: Kusnowidjaja Megawati
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Geotechnical
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15957
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Shelter is one of the basic needs of mankind, but it was not till the early 1700 AD that suggestions of building guidelines were made. These guidelines were to be written to ensure the building designed meets certain safety criteria for the well being of its inhabitants. Many different codes have since been written, covering many aspects of building design and the chapter regarding seismic loads is the focus of this project. Earthquakes can cause significant structural damages by causing them to pound against one another as they vibrate along with the motion of the ground. However, it is not true to say that seismic loads are only to be taken into consideration for buildings in earthquake prone regions. This is because energy is dissipated in a wave like manner and can be detected even at hundreds of kilometers away from where the earthquake struck. Ground motions caused by a particular earthquake can differ from site to site as there are many factors which come into play like magnitude, soil condition and epicentral distance. Guidelines in the International Building Code were written to cater more for America’s requirements and so a Singapore specific seismic design code is more desirable.