SR210 Design of houses with vertical irregularity (2018)

This report presents the results of a computer simulation study to quantify the extent that twisting will increase expected maximum wall deflections when New Zealand houses with vertical irregularity experience earthquakes. The effect of horizontal (plain) irregularity was investigation in SR171.

Houses were modelled in a non-linear computer package and subjected to time-history earthquake loading. The floors and ceilings were modelled as rigid diaphragms. The walls were modelled as springs with load/deflection characteristics matched to wall test measurements. The maximum wall in-plane earthquake-induced deflections were plotted against the eccentricity of house mass.