ASCE 7 Seismic Load Analysis
Automated seismic load calculations following ASCE 7 requirements for earthquake-resistant design.
Definition
ASCE 7 Seismic Load Analysis leverages AI to compute seismic design forces, base shear, story drift, and other earthquake-related structural parameters. The system considers site class, seismic design category, building period, and response modification factors to ensure structures meet seismic code requirements.
In Depth
ASCE 7 defines the seismic load criteria that drive structural design for earthquake resistance in the United States. The seismic provisions involve a multi-step process: determining the site-specific ground motion parameters, establishing the Seismic Design Category, selecting the appropriate seismic force-resisting system, and calculating the design forces and drift limits.
AI automates this process by pulling site-specific seismic parameters from the USGS database based on the project's coordinates, determining the Seismic Design Category from the mapped spectral accelerations and the building's risk category, and calculating the design base shear and vertical force distribution using the equivalent lateral force procedure or modal response spectrum analysis as appropriate.
The value of AI in seismic analysis is in handling the interactions between provisions. The choice of seismic force-resisting system (moment frame, braced frame, shear wall) affects not just the structural design forces but also the detailing requirements, the height limitations, the drift limits, and the requirements for non-structural component bracing. AI traces all of these dependencies to ensure that the structural system is fully compliant with the interconnected requirements of ASCE 7 and the applicable material design standard (AISC 341 for steel, ACI 318 for concrete).
Examples
Calculating equivalent lateral force
Determining seismic design category
Analyzing modal response spectrum
Nomic Use Cases
See how Nomic applies this in production AEC workflows:
Frequently Asked Questions
ASCE 7 Seismic Load Analysis leverages AI to compute seismic design forces, base shear, story drift, and other earthquake-related structural parameters. The system considers site class, seismic design category, building period, and response modification factors to ensure structures meet seismic code requirements.
Calculating equivalent lateral force. Determining seismic design category. Analyzing modal response spectrum.
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