Analytical Evaluation of the Effect of Geometry and Local Configuration of Diagrid Structures on the Robustness Component of Seismic Resilience

Authors
Kharazmi University
10.48311/mcej.2026.24047
Abstract
Diagrid structure is an extended resistant skeleton based on framed tube system which has been considered in high-rise buildings constructions due to its architectural aesthetics and configurational character. These general characteristics are demonstrated by reducing the consuming materials through removing columns and the application of a grid configuration of diagonal elements. The seismic behaviour of such a structure is affected by the configuration angle and the axial capacity of the diagonal members. With the dominance of axial function, the diagonal elements also resist lateral loads caused by wind and earthquake, and also play a key role in limiting the amplitude of inelastic behaviour. Therefore, the seismic performance of diagonal elements would reduce the process of formation and expansion of nonlinear zones in diagrid structures. According to the lack of guiding principles for the integrated design of diagrid structures, there is a high demand for extensive researches in collecting comprehensive and effective criteria for estimating stiffness and strength parameters, establishing dynamic stability and understanding how the resilience of these structures change due to dynamic loads caused by wind and earthquake.

In this study, the seismic performance of three 20-story studied diagrid buildings with the same structural system under a set of near-field records has been evaluated. The particular focus of this study is on evaluating the effect of the geometry and configuration of the resistant skeleton in the ground floor and the entrance section on the behavioural characteristics. In this paper, an analytical study has been run on the drift response parameter, the results of incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), fragility curve and the seismic resilience component under the selected earthquake records. The analytical results of this study show a close convergence between the behavioural characteristics of all three studied structures.

Keywords

Subjects


[1]. Kim J., Lee Y.H., (2012). Seismic performance evaluation of diagrid system buildings, The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 21, 736-749, https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.643.
[2]. Mele E., Toreno M., Brandonisio G., De Luca A., (2014). Diagrid structure for tall buildings: case studies and design considerations, The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 23(2), 124-145, https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.1029.
[3]. Rariei M., Adeli H., (2016). Sustainability in high-rise building design and construction, The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 25(13), 643-658, https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.1276.
[4]. Montuori G.M., Mele E., Brandonisio G., DeLuca A., (2014). Geometrical patterns for diagrids: exploring alternative design strategies from the structural point of view, Engineering Structures, 71, 112-127, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2014.04.017.
[5]. Asadi E., Li, Y., He Y., (2018). Seismic performance assessment and loss estimation of steel diagrid structures, Journal of Structural Engineering (ASCE), 144(10), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002164.
[6]. Moon K., (2008). Sustainable structural engineering for tall building, International Journal of Tall and Special Buildings, 17(5), 895-914, https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.475.
[7]. Kim J., Kong J., (2013). Progressive collapse behavior of rotor-type diagrid buildings, Journal of Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 22, 1199-1214, https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.762.
[8]. Heshmati M., Khatami A., Shakib H., (2020). Seismic performance assessment of tubular diagrid structures with varying angles in tall steel buildings, Journal of Structures, 25, 113-126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2020.02.030.
[9]. Sadeghi S., Rofooei F.R., (2020). Improving the seismic performance evaluation of steel diagrid structures using buckling restrained braces, Journal of Construction Steel Research, 166, 105905, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcsr.2019.105905
[10]. Heshmati M., Aghakouchak A., (2019). Quantification of seismic performance factors of steel diagrid system, Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 28(3), e1572, https://doi.org/10.1002/tal.1572.
[11]. Lee J., Kong J., Kim J., (2018). Seismic performance evaluation of steel diagrid buildings, International Journal of Steel Structures, 18(3), 1035-1047, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0044-8.
[12]. Moradi M., Abdolmohammadi M., (2020). Seismic fragility of a diagrid structure based on energy method, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 174, 106311, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.jcsr.2020.106311.
[13]. Vahdani R., Gerami M., Razi M., (2017). Seismic vulnerability assessment of steel moment-resisting frames based on local damage, Journal of Earthquake and Tsunami, 12, 1750016, https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793431117500166.
[14]. Zenter I., Gundel M., (2017). Fragility analysis method: review of existing approaches and application, Nuclear Engineering and Design, 323, 245-258, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2016. 12.021.
[15]. Xu J.G., Wu G., Feng D.C., (2020). Near fault ground motion effects on seismic resilience of frame structures damaged in Wenchuan earthquake, Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 16, 1704801, https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2019.
[16]. Azhdarifar M., Meshkat-Dini A., Sarvghd Moghadam A.R., (2017). Analytical study of interior rigid bents arrangement on seismic response of tall buildings, Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering (JSEE), 19(3), 247-260.
[17]. Maryam Khalaj-Zadeh, “Evaluation of Seismic Behavior and Stability of Diagrid Structures based on the Criterion of Fragility Curves in Near-Fault Zones”, MSc. Thesis, Kharazmi University, Tehtran, Iran, 2021, (in Persian).
[18]. The Iranian National Building Code. (2014). Steel structures. Issue 10, Tehran, Iran.
[19]. The Iranian National Building Code. (2014). Design loads for buildings. Issue 6, Tehran, Iran.
[20]. Standard No. 2800. (2014). Iranian Code of Practice for Seismic Resistant Design of Buildings, 4th Edition, Tehran, Iran.
[21]. Asadi E., Adeli H., (2018). Seismic performance factors for low-to mid-rise steel diagrid structural systems, International Journal of Tall and Special Buildings, DOI:10.1002/tal.1505.
[22]. SAP2000, CSI, (2010). Analysis Reference Manual, Computers and Structures Inc., Berkeley, California, USA.
[23]. FEMA 356, Prestandard and Commentary for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings, Federal Emergency Management, 1998.
[24]. FEMA 440, Improvement of Nonlinear Static Seismic Analysis Procedures, Applied Technology Council (ATC-55 Project), 2005.
[25]. PEER Strong Ground Motion Database, http://peer.berkeley.edu/
[26]. Li C., Meng K., Gou Y., (2024). An efficient algorithm to identify strong pulse-like ground motions based on the smoothed significant velocity half-cycles, Earthquake Engineering, 1-17.
[27]. PERFORM 3D, CSI, (2011). Nonlinear Analysis and Performance Assessment for 3D Structures, Computers and Structures Inc., Berkeley, California, USA.
[28]. Zareian F., Krawinkler H., Ibarra L., Lignos D., (2010). Basic concept and performance measures in prediction of collapse of buildings under earthquake ground motions, Journal of Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, 19, 167-181.
[29]. Sauddin S.A., Nazri F.M., (2015). Fragility curves for low and mid-rise buildings in Malayasia, Procedia Engineering, 125, 837-878.
[30]. Lachanas C.G., Vamvatsikos D., (2021). Model type effects on the estimates seismic response of a 20story steel moment resisting frame, Journal of Structural Engineering (ASCE), 147(6), https:// doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003010
[31]. Zhao D., Wang H., Wang D., Zhu R., Zhang J., (2022). Quantitative classification of near-fault ground motions selected by energy indicators, Structures, 35, 780-791, https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.istruc.2021.11.032.
[32]. Tian Y., Lin K., Zhang L., Lu X., Xue H., (2021). Novel seismic progressive collapse resilient super-tall building system, Journal of Building Engineering, 102790.
[33]. Lallemant D., Kiremidjian A., Burton H., (2015). Statical procedures for developing earthquake damage fragility curves, Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 44, 1373-1389.
[34]. Pnevmatikos N.G., Papagiannopoulous G.A., Papavasilieou G.S., (2019). Fragility curves for mixed concrete/steel frames subjected to seismic, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 116, 709-713.
[35]. Cimellaro G.P., Reinhorn A.M., Bruneau M., (2010). Framework for analytical quantification of disaster resilience, Engineering Structures, 32, 3639-3649, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2010 .08.008.
[36]. Xing L., Gardoni P., Zhou Y., (2024). An Fragility estimates for high-rise buildings with outrigger systems under seismic and wind loads, Earthquake Engineering, 28:2, 496-531.
[37]. Multi-Hazard Loss Estimation Methodology (HAZUS), (2005). Federal Emergency Management Agency & Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.
[38]. Cimellaro G.P., Fumo C., Reinhorn A.M., Bruneau M., (2009). Quantification of Disaster Resilience of Health Care Facilities, Technical Report MCEER, University of Buffalo, State University of New York.
[39]. Mohsenian, V., Gharaei‑Moghaddam, N., Arabshahi, A., (2022). Evaluation of the probabilistic distribution of statistical data used in the process of developing fragility curves, International Journal of Steel Structures, 22(4),1002-1024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-022-00619-w
[40]. Baghaei E., Homami P., Meshkat-Dini A., (2021). Evaluation of the robustness component of seismic resilience in low and mid-rise braced frame structures in near-field sites, Sharif Journal of Civil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, IRAN, 37.2 (2.2), 159-171, DOI: 10.24200/J30.2020.56543.2839. (in Persian)
[41]. Khademi M., Tehranizadeh M., Shirkhani A., Hajirasouliha I., (2023). Earthquake-induced loss assessment of steel dual concentrically braced structures subjected to near-field ground motions, Structures, 51, 1123-1139, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2023.03.105.

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 January 2026