Seismic Design of Buildings in China

Abstract

This paper gives the reader a general perspective on the subject of seismic design of buildings in China and may be of special interest to those who may do building design in that country. In the introduction, the main characteristics of Chinese earthquakes, some major earthquake disasters in the past, and a brief history of seismic design in China are related. The paper goes on to relate some new features of the recently promulgated seismic code which include a new design spectrum, how to identify liquefiable soil, the three levels of seismic protection, and the two-phase design. The paper also presents the seismic design of multistory brick and reinforced concrete buildings which differs somewhat from that of other countries, and three examples of actual design.