Seismic Performance Evaluation of a 10-story RC Building Using Pushover Analysis & Response Spectrum Analysis

Seismic performance evaluation of high-rise buildings plays a crucial role in maintaining structural safety within earthquake-prone regions. The growing frequency and intensity of seismic activities worldwide require innovative approaches to structural design that focus on resilience, creating sustainable solutions and safety assurance. The conventional force-based methods fail to properly capture nonlinear structural behaviors. On the other hand, energy-based seismic analysis provides a better understanding of how seismic energy get absorbed and distributed within buildings that is to say, the pathways through which earthquake energy flows. This study analyzes the behavior of a 10-story reinforced concrete (RC) building using pushover analysis (POA) and response spectrum analysis (RSA) in ETABS, following the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC 2020). The building is modeled with typical gravity and lateral load-resisting systems, considering BNBC seismic code specifications. The POA provides insights into the nonlinear performance of the structure, identifying hinge locations and performance levels under increasing lateral loads. Meanwhile, RSA assesses building responses to seismic motions through vibration pattern studies. A comparative evaluation of base shear, story displacement and drift ratios is conducted to determine whether the structure meets BNBC safety limits. Results suggest that while response spectrum analysis is effective for preliminary design, pushover analysis offers deeper insight into potential failure mechanisms. This study emphasizes the significance of integrating both static and dynamic approaches for a comprehensive seismic evaluation of high-rise buildings.