Description

This session walks through the complete seismic design process for a reinforced concrete building, with a strong focus on building the analysis model quickly and reliably. Starting from a pre-defined template with materials, sections and load combinations, the presenter shows how importing 3D element axes from a CAD file, with each layer mapped to a MIDAS section, allows the entire geometry to be built in about 15 minutes.

The model is then prepared for analysis step by step: wall elements and auto-meshed slabs, section insertion points and rigid links, surface springs for foundation beams, panel zone effects, story definition with floor diaphragms, and stiffness reduction for cracked concrete elements. Groups are used to apply dead, live and snow loads efficiently, and an inelastic response spectrum is defined for the seismic analysis.

The final part reviews the results, including vibration modes and modal participation, displacements and story drift, internal forces and soil pressure, before moving to design. Beams, columns and walls are checked to Eurocode with high ductility class and the strong column–weak beam requirement, slabs are designed with the mesh design module, and steel members are verified with the steel code check.