ISO 3010

International Standard
Based for Design of Structures - Seismic Actions on Structures

2001

International Organization for Standardization

Editorial Note: We are granted the permission for reproduction of permitted the extract of the
code in the World List 2008 from the ISO Central Secretariat.
Paragraphs 1, 5, 6 and annexes A, B, C of ISO 3010:2001, Basis for design of structures –
Seismic actions on structures are reproduced with the permission of the International
Organization for Standardization, ISO. This standard can be obtained from any ISO member
and from the Web site of the ISO Central Secretariat at the following address: www.iso.org.
Copyright remains with ISO.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 3010:2001(E)

Basis for design of structures－Seismic actions on structures

1 Scope

This International Standard specifies principles of evaluating seismic actions for the seismic design of buildings, towers,

chimneys and similar structures. Some of the principles can be referred to for the seismic design of structures such as

bridges, dams, harbour installations, tunnels, fuel storage tanks, chemical plants and conventional power plants.

The principles specified in this International Standard do not cover nuclear power plants, since these are dealt with

separately in other International Standards.

In regions where the seismic hazard is low, methods of design for structural integrity may be used in lieu of methods based

on a consideration of seismic actions.

This International Standard is not a legally binding and enforceable code. It can be viewed as a source document that is

utilized in the development of codes of practice by the competent authority responsible for issuing structural design

regulations.

NOTE 1 This International Standard has been prepared mainly for engineered structures. The principles are, however,

applicable to non-engineered structures.

NOTE 2 The qualification of the level of seismic hazard that would be considered low depends on not only the seismicity of

the region but other factors, including types of construction, traditional practices, etc. Methods of design for structural

integrity include regional design horizontal forces which provide a measure of protection against seismic actions.

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5 Bases of seismic design

The basic philosophy of seismic design of structures is, in the event of earthquakes,

－to prevent human casualties,

－to ensure continuity of vital services, and

－to minimize damage to property.

It is recognized that to give complete protection against all earthquakes is not economically feasible for most types of

structures. This International Standard states the following basic principles.

a) The structure should not collapse nor experience other similar forms of structural failure due to severe earthquake

ground motions that could occur at the site (ultimate limit state: ULS).

b) The structure should withstand moderate earthquake ground motions which may be expected to occur at the site during

the service life of the structure with damage within accepted limits(serviceability limit state: SLS).

In order to ensure safety and vital services, elements controlling services to buildings, such as cables, pipe lines,

air-conditioning, fire-fighting system, elevator system and other similar systems, should be protected against seismic actions.

NOTE 1 In addition to the seismic design and construction of structures stated in this International Standard, it is useful to

consider adequate countermeasures against secondary disasters such as fire, leakage of hazardous materials from

industrial facilities or storage tanks, and large-scale landslides which may be triggered by the earthquake.

NOTE 2 Following an earthquake, earthquake-damaged buildings may need to be evaluated for safe occupation during a

period of time when aftershocks occur. This International Standard, however, does not address actions that can be expected

due to aftershocks. In this case a model of the damaged structure is required to evaluate seismic actions.

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6 Principles of seismic design

6.1 Construction site

Characteristics of construction sites under seismic actions should be evaluated, taking into account microzonation

criteria(vicinity to active faults, soil profile, soil behaviour under large strain, liquefaction potential, topography, subsurface

irregularity, and other factors such as interactions between these).

6.2 Structural configuration

For better seismic resistance, it is recommended that structures have simple forms in both plan and elevation.

a) Plan irregularities

Structural elements to resist horizontal seismic actions should be arranged such that torsional effects become as small as

possible. Irregular shapes in plan causing eccentric distribution of forces are not desirable, since they produce torsional

effects which are difficult to assess accurately and which may amplify the dynamic response of the structure (see annex

F).

b) Vertical irregularities

Changes in mass, stiffness and capacity along the height of the structure should be minimized to avoid damage

concentration (see annex D).

When a structure with complex form is to be designed. an appropriate dynamic analysis is recommended in order to check

the potential behaviour of the structure.

6.3 Influence of non-structural elements

The building, including non-structural as well as structural elements, should be clearly defined as a lateral load-resisting

system which can be analysed. In computing the earthquake response of a building, the influence of not only the structural

frames but also walls, floors, partitions, stairs, windows, etc., should be considered.

NOTE Non-structural elements neglected in seismic analysis can provide additional strength and stiffness to the structure,

which may result in favourable behaviour during earthquakes. The non-structural elements, however, may cause

unfavourable behaviour, e.g. spandrel walls may reduce clear height of reinforced concrete columns and cause the brittle

shear failure to the columns, or unsymmetrical allocation of partition walls(which are considered to be non-structural

elements) may cause large torsional moments to the structure. Therefore, all elements should be considered as they be have

during earthquakes. If neglecting the non-structural elements does not cause any unfavourable behaviour, they need not be

included in seismic analysis.

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6.4 Strength and ductility

The structural system and its structural elements (both members and connections) should have both adequate strength and

ductility for the applied seismic actions.

The structure should have adequate strength for the applied seismic actions and sufficient ductility to ensure adequate

energy absorption (see annex B). Special attention should be given to suppressing the brittle behaviour of structural

elements, such as buckling, bond failure, shear failure, and brittle fracture. The deterioration of the restoring force under

cyclic loadings should be taken into account.

Local capacities of the structure may be higher than that assumed in the analysis. Such overcapacities should be taken into

account in evaluating the behaviour of the structure, including the failure mode of structural elements, failure mechanism of

the structure, and the behaviour of the foundations due to severe earthquake ground motions.

6.5 Deformation of the structure

The deformation of the structure under seismic actions should be limited, neither causing malfunction of the structure

for moderate earthquake ground motions, nor causing collapse or other similar forms of structural failure for severe

earthquake ground motions.

NOTE There are two kinds of deformations to be controlled: the interstorey drift which is the lateral displacement within a

storey and the total lateral displacement at some level relative to the base. The interstorey drift should be limited to restrict

damage to non-structural elements such as glass panels, curtain walls, plaster walls and other partitions for moderate

earthquake ground motions and to control failure of structural elements and the instability of the structure in the case of

severe earthquake ground motions. The control of the total displacement is concerned with sufficient separations of two

adjoining structures to avoid damaging contact for severe earthquake ground motions. The control of the total displacement

may also decrease the amplitude of vibration of the structure and reduce panic or discomfort for moderate earthquake

ground motions. In the evaluation of deformations under severe earthquake ground motions, it is generally necessary to

account for the second order effect (P-delta effect) of additional moments due to gravity plus vertical seismic forces acting on

the displaced structure which occurs as a result of severe earthquake ground motions.

6.6 Response control systems

Response control systems for structures, e.g. seismic isolation, can be used to ensure continuous use of the structure for

moderate earthquake ground motions and to prevent collapse during severe earthquake ground motions (see annex J).

6.7 Foundations
The type of foundation should be selected carefully in accordance with the type of structure and local soil conditions, e.g. soil

profile, subsurface irregularity, groundwater level. Both forces and deformations transferred through the foundations should

be evaluated properly considering the strains induced to soils during earthquake ground motions as well as kinematic and

inertial interactions between soils and foundations.

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