Nonlinear Seismic Response Evaluation—Charaima Building

The seismic response characteristics of the 11-story Charaima apartment building, which partially collapsed during the 1967 Venezuelan earthquake, are examined. The influences of higher modes, nonstructural partitions, soil-foundation interaction, slab stiffness, and ground motion characteristics on the dynamic response of the entire building were investigated assuming linear elastic behavior. More realistic inelastic analyses of the critical frame of the building were also conducted to investigate the effects of slab stiffness and ground-motion characteristics on the dynamic response. Both elastic and inelastic analyses identified failure mechanisms compatible with the actual damage to the building. The results clearly indicate that estimates of possible inelastic deformation based on elastic analyses can err significantly in magnitude and distribution. The investigation emphasizes the importance of explicitly accounting for both strength and ductility in design, analysis, and construction.