Notes on the new New Zealand earthquake loading provisions

Abstract

The paper indicates various aspects of the new earthquake loading provisions which are at present still in draft form.
 Important changes from the previous code include requirements regarding ductility, energy dissipation, capacity design, concurrency effects, foundation design, torsional effects and separation of elements. The seismic design coefficients for buildings and part of buildings are related to zoning, building period, subsoil, importance factors, structural type, structural material and risk factors. Dynamic analysis is directly related to the codified equivalent static force spectrum.