Impact of incidence angle of seismic excitation on vertically irregular structures

The incidence angle of seismic excitation relative to the two orthogonal major axes of structures has been a subject of considerable research interest. Previous studies have primarily focused on single-storey symmetric and asymmetric structures, suggesting a minimal effect of incidence angle on structural behavior. This research extends the investigation to multi-storey structures, including vertically irregular configurations, using a comprehensive set of 20 near fault and 20 far field seismic excitation. The study employs nonlinear time-history analysis with a bidirectional hysteresis model to capture inelastic deformations accurately. Various structural models, including one-storey and two- storey regular structures (R1, R2) and vertically irregular structures with setbacks in one direction (IR1) and both directions (IR2), are analysed. The analysis reveals that the incidence angle has no discernible impact over the response of regular multi-storey structures. However, vertically irregular structures exhibit notable responses at corner columns, which decrease towards central columns, irrespective of the incidence angle. This response is attributed to the inherent mass distribution and stiffness irregularities rather than the angle of seismic excitation. The findings indicate that for both near fault and far field seismic excitation, the incidence angle's impact remains marginal even for complex structural configurations. Consequently, the study suggests that the angle of incidence of seismic excitation need not be a primary consideration in the seismic design of both regular and vertically irregular structures. These conclusions are robust across various structural models and seismic excitation characteristics, providing a comprehensive understanding the impact of incidence angle on seismic response.