Comparative Influence of Lateral Loadings on Multistoried Structures in Coastal Region

In recent decades, the design of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings to decrease the lateral loading impact has garnered considerable attention. As Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has low to moderate seismicity, the majority of structures were only intended for resisting gravity load. Furthermore, wind loading is an influencing force to structure that deliberately effect on the structural performance. Therefore, the study includes the structural design for residential building and the effect of lateral loads on structure. The objective is to analyze and develop RC buildings to decrease lateral loads in the highly active seismic zone and wind environment in KSA. Using the Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure and ETABS software, a multi-story RC building in the coastal city of Dammam has been evaluated and planned. The selected Ordinary Moment Resisting Frame (OMR) buildings were analyzed and designed in accordance with latest version of Saudi Building Code SBC 301 (2018). The study explores the performance of the residential buildings under lateral loading along with the gravity loading conditions. The structural design results using considered sections of beams, columns and slabs show that the present design of RC building structures situated in the active seismic region and wind environment of the coastal region is found safe, adequate and satisfied to mitigate the effect of lateral seismic loads. It was revealed that only gravity load underestimated the member forces and efficient design might be obtained when lateral loading is imposed on the structures. Moreover, wind loading imposes more shear and moments than seismic loading and this governing load should be considered in the design precisely.