Structural Behavior of Sloped Buildings Under Seismic Loading: Current Knowledge and Future Directions

This study investigates the seismic response of buildings located on slopes, which are more susceptible to seismic conditions compared to those on level ground. The irregular shapes of sloped buildings, both vertically and horizontally, can lead to torsional coupling and severe damage during seismic events. The study focuses on the dynamic characteristics of G+3 multi-storey reinforced concrete buildings on sloped hills by varying the slope angles, with the main goal of examining how sloped buildings respond to sinusoidal ground movement and earthquake activity. The differences in base shear and displacement based on variations in the sloped building frame are investigated, and the slope angle resulting in less displacement and safer conditions for increasing building height is determined. The study employs various code-based procedures for seismic analysis, including Equivalent Static Analysis, Response Spectrum Analysis, Time History Analysis, and Push Over Analysis. The natural periods of structures are found to depend on the distribution of mass and stiffness throughout the building, with taller buildings having larger central translational natural periods and structures swaying in the directions where they are most flexible. The study highlights the need for thorough examination of structures in seismically active areas, especially in developing countries like India, where there is a significant amount of hilly terrain classified as seismic zones IV and V.