Research and Experiment on Optimal Separation Distance of Adjacent Buildings Based on Performance

Firstly, constitutive models of two unequal height adjacent ten-story and six-story reinforced concrete frame structures were established based on OpenSees software in which a series of separation distances are set for incremental dynamic analysis (IDA), respectively. Secondly, the seismic vulnerability curves by postprocessing programming in Matlab software were obtained based on IDA datum, and the optimal separation distances of adjacent buildings with and without connecting dampers were obtained by comparing the seismic vulnerability of adjacent building at different separation distance and the seismic hazard analysis. Finally, a scaled model shaking table test of adjacent steel frame structures was performed. The conclusions are obtained by comparing the measured results of the test with those obtained by the OpenSees analysis, such as acceleration and displacement. The conclusions show that when two adjacent buildings are not connected with a damper, the distance of adjacent structures is suggested to be 0.3 m under moderate and strong earthquakes and the distance of adjacent structures is suggested to be a specified value of 0.24 m under rare earthquakes. When two adjacent buildings are connected with dampers, the separation distance is suggested to be 0.1 m under various performance conditions.