A comparative study of linear elastic earthquake analysis methods in terms of base shear and relative story drift

Turkish Seismic Code 2007 defines three methods for linear elastic seismic analysis, which are Equivalent Earthquake Load Analysis, Modal Superposition Analysis and Time-History Analysis. Although the code specifies that dynamic methods Modal Superposition and Time-History are allowed to be used in any kind of structure, the use of static method Equivalent Earthquake Load , is restricted in connection with the seismic zone, building height and irregularity of the structure. In this thesis, seismic analyses of four different structures, within the applicability limits of Equivalent Earthquake Load Method are performed using both Equivalent Earthquake Analysis and Modal Superposition Analysis and the results are compared in terms of Base Shear and Relative Story Drifts parameters. The aim of the study is to present how the convergence of the results of aforementioned methods in terms of Base Shear and Relative Story Drift parameters are affected by the variables of height of the building and torsional irregularity.