SEIAMIC

SEISMIC PRINCIPLES EXAMINATION

2022 California Building Code (CBC)
California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, Volumes 1 and 2
Based on the 2021 International Building Code (IBC)

International Code Council (ICC)
Western Regional Office (LA) Bookstore
3060 Saturn Street, Suite 100
Brea, California 92821
888-ICC-SAFE (888-422-7233)
www.iccsafe.org

Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures
American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE/SEI 7-16

Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic
AWC SDPWS-2021

Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures
TMS 402/602-16

ATC-20 Procedures for Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings and ATC-20-1 Field Manual:
Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings, 2nd Edition
1995
Applied Technology Council
201 Redwood Shores Parkway, Suite 240
Redwood City, California 94065
(650) 595-1542
www.atcouncil.org

Design of Wood Structures ASD/LRFD
7th Edition, 2014
Donald E. Breyer, Kenneth J. Fridley, Kelly E. Cobeen
McGraw-Hill, Inc. New

I. Seismic Data and Seismic Design Criteria (8%)

Professional Activities:

1. Practice in accordance with seismic codes and standards
   
   

2. Identify design performance requirements
   
   

3. Determine site-related coefficients
   
   

4. Assess effects of site characteristics on a structure
   
   

5. Determine Seismic Design Category
   
   

Topics May Include:

• Seismic hazards and geotechnical data (e.g., liquefaction, site classification)
  
  

• Site-related seismic coefficients
  
  

• Applicable codes (e.g., design philosophy, construction document data)
  
  

• Seismic Design Categories
  
  

• Risk categories by occupancy type
  
  

II. Seismic Characteristics of Engineered Systems (8%)

Professional Activities:

1. Select seismic force-resisting systems
   
   

2. Evaluate structural characteristics affecting seismic design
   
   

3. Combine lateral force-resisting systems
   
   

Topics May Include:

• Structural system parameters and limitations
  
  

• Horizontal/vertical irregularities
  
  

• P-Delta effects, drift
  
  

• Separation/setback requirements
  
  

• Redundancy, ductility, damping
  
  

III. Seismic Vulnerability & Improvement of Structural Systems (6%)

Professional Activities:

1. Assess vulnerable structures
   
   

2. Evaluate post-earthquake safety
   
   

3. Recommend improvements for existing structures
   
   

Topics May Include:

• URM anchorage and stability
  
  

• Precast/cast-in-place concrete connection issues
  
  

• Diaphragm-to-wall failures
  
  

• Steel frame vulnerabilities
  
  

• Damage assessment and strengthening methods
  
  

IV. Seismic Forces: Building Structures (26%)

Professional Activities:

1. Analyze structural characteristics
   
   

2. Calculate seismic design forces
   
   

3. Distribute vertical seismic forces
   
   

4. Analyze diaphragm forces
   
   

5. Determine forces on structural elements
   
   

Topics May Include:

• Mass/stiffness
  
  

• Fundamental period
  
  

• System combinations (e.g., two-stage)
  
  

• Base shear, vertical distribution
  
  

• Forces on diaphragms, out-of-plane elements, anchorage
  
  

V. Seismic Forces: Non-Building Structures & Components (14%)

Professional Activities:

1. Determine forces for non-structural components
   
   

2. Determine forces for non-building structures
   
   

Topics May Include:

• Fundamental period
  
  

• Base shear for non-building structures
  
  

• Lateral force formulas for components
  
  

• Rigid structures
  
  

VI. Seismic Analysis Procedures (26%)

Professional Activities:

1. Analyze force-resisting systems
   
   

2. Distribute forces to elements
   
   

3. Analyze diaphragms
   
   

Topics May Include:

• Load combinations
  
  

• Load path forces
  
  

• Drift and deflection
  
  

• Force distribution based on rigidity
  
  

• Diaphragm analysis (flexible, semi-rigid, rigid)
  
  

• Torsion, subdiaphragms, centers of mass/rigidity
  
  

VII. Seismic Detailing and Construction Quality Control (12%)

Professional Activities:

1. Identify seismic detailing requirements
   
   

2. Recognize quality control/testing needs
   
   

Topics May Include:

• Seismic detailing for steel, concrete, masonry, wood
  
  

• Deformation compatibility
  
  

• Continuity, collector/tie detailing
  
  

• Wall anchorage
  
  

• Inspection/testing/observation requirements

Req.

1. Ss

English: Mapped spectral acceleration at short period (0.2 sec), from USGS.
Farsi: شتاب طیفی نقشه‌ای برای دوره کوتاه (۰.۲ ثانیه)، از نقشه‌های زمین‌لرزه USGS

2. S1

English: Mapped spectral acceleration at 1-second period.
Farsi: شتاب طیفی نقشه‌ای برای دوره یک ثانیه

3. Fa

English: Site coefficient for short period (adjusts Ss for soil type).
Farsi: ضریب مکان برای دوره کوتاه (تعدیل Ss براساس نوع خاک)

4. Fv

English: Site coefficient for 1-second period (adjusts S1 for soil type).
Farsi: ضریب مکان برای دوره یک ثانیه (تعدیل S1 براساس نوع خاک)

5. SMS

English: Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCER) spectral response at short period.
Formula: SMS = Fa × Ss
Farsi: طیف پاسخ زلزله حداکثر در دوره کوتاه
فرمول: SMS = Fa × Ss

6. SM1

English: MCER spectral response at 1-second period.
Formula: SM1 = Fv × S1
Farsi: طیف پاسخ زلزله حداکثر در دوره یک ثانیه
فرمول: SM1 = Fv × S1

7. SDS

English: Design spectral response acceleration at short period.
Formula: SDS = (2/3) × SMS
Farsi: طیف پاسخ طراحی در دوره کوتاه
فرمول: SDS = (2/3) × SMS

8. SD1

English: Design spectral response acceleration at 1-second period.
Formula: SD1 = (2/3) × SM1
Farsi: طیف پاسخ طراحی در دوره یک ثانیه
فرمول: SD1 = (2/3) × SM1

9. TL

English: Long-period transition period (used for tall/long-period buildings). Provided by maps.
Farsi: دوره گذار به دوره بلند برای ساختمان‌های بلند. از نقشه‌ها استخراج می‌شود.

10. To

English: Transition period between constant acceleration and velocity (start of velocity-controlled range).
Formula: To = 0.2 × SD1 / SDS
Farsi: شروع ناحیه کنترل سرعت در طیف طراحی
فرمول: To = 0.2 × SD1 / SDS

11. Ts

English: Transition period between constant velocity and displacement (start of displacement-controlled range).
Formula: Ts = SD1 / SDS
Farsi: شروع ناحیه کنترل جابجایی در طیف طراحی
فرمول: Ts = SD1 / SDS

12. R

English: Response modification coefficient – accounts for ductility, overstrength, redundancy.
Farsi: ضریب کاهش پاسخ – وابسته به نوع سیستم سازه‌ای (مثلاً قاب خمشی، دیوار برشی)

13. Ie

English: Importance factor – depends on occupancy and risk category.
Farsi: ضریب اهمیت – بسته به نوع کاربری ساختمان (مثلاً بیمارستان، مدرسه)

14. Cs

English: Seismic response coefficient – used to calculate base shear.
Formula: Cs = SDS / (R / Ie) or more detailed forms depending on T
Farsi: ضریب پاسخ لرزه‌ای – برای محاسبه نیروی پایه استفاده می‌شود
فرمول: بسته به شرایط، معمولاً Cs = SDS / (R / Ie)

15. V

English: Base shear – total lateral force at base.
Formula: V = Cs × W
Farsi: نیروی برشی پایه – نیروی جانبی کل در پایه سازه
فرمول: V = Cs × W

16. W

English: Effective seismic weight – total dead load plus applicable portion of live and other loads.
Farsi: وزن موثر لرزه‌ای – شامل بار مرده و بخشی از بار زنده و سایر بارها

Important Quiz

Summary of the Key Rules

1. You may bring:

• Any number of references, as long as they fit in one trip and one box no larger than 10"H × 15"W × 24"D.
  
  

• References that are bound — meaning:
  
  

  • Permanently bound by stitching or glue, or
    
    

  • Fastened securely in a binder or cover with rings, screws, or posts that penetrate all pages.
    
    

• “Post-it” notes used as tabs (must be attached before entering).
  
  

2. You may NOT bring:

• Hand-stapled, loose, or unbound notes.
  
  

• Blank paper, blank notebooks, or unbound tablets.
  
  

• Slide or wheel charts.
  
  

• Extra loose pages.
  
  

3. Reference inspection:

• All books and binders are inspected by the test center staff before you enter.
  
  

• Only bound materials are allowed inside.
  
  

4. Workspace limit:

• Desk space is about 48" × 24", so plan compactly.
  
  

5. Measuring devices allowed:

• You can bring any two of these: ruler, protractor, architect’s scale, or engineer’s scale.
  
  

In short:
✅ Yes, you can bring your printed references (CERM, Surveying Principles, Map Act, etc.),
❌ but they must be bound and fit in one Banker’s Box that you can carry in one trip.