Comparison between ACI 318-19 and NSR-10 for the structural design of concrete frames in high seismic hazard zones

Comparison between ACI-318-19 and NSR-10 for structural design of concrete frames in high seismic hazard zones

Abstract

This work is a comparative analysis between the Colombian Earthquake Resistant Construction Standard NSR-10 and the  ACI 318-19 Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete of 2019, which is the basis of the upcoming title C of the NSR-21/22 standard. The current technical requirements in title C of NSR-10 were compared with the requirements of the ACI 318-19 regulation for reinforced concrete frames systems in areas of high seismic hazard. Initially, a comparative analysis was developed between the body of title C of the NSR-10 and the ACI 318-19 regulation, showing the differences in the disposition of each of the present chapters. From this analysis it is possible to obtain a comparative matrix and the corresponding procedures to each chapter, which facilitated the understanding of the differences in their arrangement. Subsequently, another comparative analysis is developed, where the requirements for elements belonging to structures with special energy dissipation capacity are compared one by one. From this comparison, a more detailed analysis of the most relevant differences is found between the specifications of both regulations, accompanied by a brief discussion of the changes found. Finally, the structural design of two frame buildings is developed, designed under the guidelines of both regulations in order to compare the amounts of reinforcement and volumes of concrete, through which an analysis of the economic impact generated by the application of the new specifications established in the ACI 318-19 code was developed, in which the structural designs of both alternatives yielded a percentage difference in costs of 2.2%.