Author(s)

Tariq M. Nahhas

Civil Engineering Department, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The study uses an actual building to compare the modal response spectrum analysis results of Saudi Building Code (SBC) and the 1997 Uniform Building Code (UBC) used in Saudi Arabia before the introduction of SBC. A sample of four buildings with reported analysis of comparison between IBC and UBC is taken for confirming the comparison. Eight sample places from SBC map for Saudi Arabia together with two sample places of high seismic activity in USA were taken for the comparisons. The study used software package ETABS in this study for modeling and analysis. The results are dissimilar from the comparisons reported for test places of USA. It is concluded that at most places SBC base shear is higher for both ELFP and MRSA. However, the results cannot be generalized and considered always right. The same is factual for overturning moments. Consequently, we cannot report that SBC is more conservative than UBC for all scenarios.

Seismic Analysis, Seismic Design, Building Codes, Response Spectrum, Building Structure

Nahhas, T. (2017) A Comparison of Saudi Building Code with 1997 UBC for Provisions of Modal Response Spectrum Analysis Using a Real Building. Open Journal of Earthquake Research, 6, 98-116. doi: 10.4236/ojer.2017.62006.