“Performance Based Analysis & Design of Floating & Non-Floating Column with and Without Seismic Effect on Multistoreyed Building”

Abstract

In modern urban construction, architectural demand for aesthetic flexibility, functional spaces often lead to the use of structural features such as floating columns. A floating column which is a vertical straight member in a structural building that rests on a beam or slab and cannot transferring the load directly to the foundation. This method creates discontinuities in the load transmission path, which can be crucial, particularly under lateral loads like those caused by earthquakes, even if it allows design freedom and space optimization.

Buildings with floating columns behave very differently than those with traditional (non-floating) columns, especially during seismic activity. The stability and integrity of buildings situated in seismic zones are put to the test by dynamic forces. When floating columns lack a continuous load route, stress concentration may rise, and the structure may be more susceptible to damage or collapse in the event of an earthquake. For this study, a residential building with 21 floors (G+20) is analyzed in four configurations, one with floating columns and the other without and other two are the alternate floors. The structure is predictable to be in Seismic Zone III, as per IS 1893:2016. The buildings are modelled using Staad Pro V8i.

This study aims to analyze and compare the total behavior of multistoried buildings with floating and non-floating columns under both static and seismic loading conditions with help of by using structural analysis software. The major parameters such as base shear, story displacement, inter-story drift, and whole structural stability are evaluated. The goal is to understand the impact of floating columns on building performance and to propose design considerations that can improve the seismic resistance of such structures.