Seismic Parameters

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Figure 1

The Seismic Parameters section in AEC | BOLT Building Design Suite calculates the seismic base shear. To perform this calculation, the user needs to import the following templates from the (Design Templates as described in the mentioned section:

→ "SeismicBaseShear" template (Figure 1): There are multiple templates available in the AEC | BOLT BIM Cloud library with the name "SeismicBaseShear." Each template calculates the seismic base shear according to the applicable building code.

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→ "SeismicDesignCategoryFromX" template (Figure 2): There are multiple templates available in the AEC | BOLT BIM Cloud library to determine the seismic design category of the building. The user needs to select the template that corresponds to the applicable building code.

→ Once the templates are imported, they must be assigned as "Seismic Design Code" and "Seismic Design Category" criteria objects in the section (Figure 3). After setting the necessary templates, the user can edit the "Seismic Parameters" spreadsheet.

AEC | BOLT Building Design Suite allows the user to import most of the property values from the library, but the user can also enter the property values manually. The following properties need to be set by the user:

• Ground Story

• Site Class

• Lateral Force-Resisting System

• Occupancy Category

The following properties can be imported or entered manually by the user:

• 0.2 Sec Spectral Accel, SS

• 1 Sec Spectral Accel, S1

• Long Term Period, Tl

• Response Modification Factor, R

• Overstrength Factor, Omega

• Deflection Amplification, Cd

→ To import regional Ss, S1, and Tl values, click "Import Seismic Coefficients" (Figure 4) and select the region. Similarly, to import R, Omega, and Cd values, click "Import Seismic Factors" (Figure 5) and select the applicable building code database, structure system, and resisting system.

The values of seismic design factors can be seen on the right side of the pop-up window. The Seismic Design Category is automatically determined based on the occupancy category, site class, Ss, and S1 values. The Seismic Force-Resisting System property is read-only and displays the resisting system of the building.

To view a detailed report, click "Show" (Figure 6). The detailed report includes information such as building height limitation, seismic ground motion parameters, seismic design parameters, period of vibration, seismic weight, base shear, vertical distribution of force, shear diagram, and overturning moment diagram.