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B
Notation

All symbols used in this book are defined where they first appear. For the reader’s conve-
nience, this appendix, arranged in four parts to follow the organization of the text, contains
the principal meanings of the commonly used notations. The reader is cautioned that some
symbols denote more than one quantity, but the meaning should be clear when read in
context.

Abbreviations

CM center of mass MFDC Mexico’s Federal District

CQC complete quadratic Code
combination NBCC National Building Code of
DFT discrete Fourier transform Canada
DOF degree of freedom SDF single-degree-of-freedom
EC Eurocode 8 SRSS square root of the sum of
FFT fast Fourier transform squares
IBC International Building Code UBC Uniform Building Code
MDF multi-degree-of-freedom

Accents

(¯) modal contribution factor for ( ) k̂ condensed k

(ˇ) shifted value of ( ) (˜) approximation to ( )
(˙)
d
( ) (˜) generalized ( )
dt

805
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806 Notation App. B

Prefixes

δ, δ increment over extended time δ (·) virtual (·)

step , ∆ increment over time step

Subscripts

A acceleration I inertia; input

b base; beam; base-isolation K kinetic
system m peak value for inelastic
c column; complementary systems; maximum
solution n natural; mode number
cr critical o peak value
d duration p particular solution
D damping; damped; sec secant
displacement st static
e eccentric; element S spring (elastic or inelastic);
eff effective strain
eq equivalent T tangent; transmitted
f fixed-base system V velocity
F friction x, y, θ directions or components
g ground y yield
i time step number; peak Y yielding
number
i, j floor number; story number;
DOF; frame number

Superscripts

s quasi-static t total
st static

PART I: CHAPTERS 1–8

Roman Symbols

a constant in time-stepping A coefficient in Eq. (5.2.5)

methods A(t) pseudo-acceleration
aj Fourier cosine coefficients Ay ωn2 u y
ay f y /m A1 , A2 arbitrary constants
a0 Fourier coefficient b constant in time-stepping
A integration constant; methods
arbitrary constant; bj Fourier sine coefficients
coefficient in Eq. (5.2.5); B integration constant; arbitrary
pseudo-acceleration spectrum constant; coefficient in
ordinate Eq. (5.2.5)
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Part I: Chapters 1–8 807

B coefficient in Eq. (5.2.5) h height of one-story frame;

B1 , B2 arbitrary constants story height
c damping coefficient h(t) unit impulse response
c̃ generalized damping H (ω) complex frequency response
ccr critical damping coefficient i time step number
C arbitrary constant; coefficient I second moment of area
in Eq. (5.2.5) I magnitude of impulse
C coefficient in Eq. (5.2.5) Ib I for a beam
D arbitrary constant; coefficient Ic I for a column
in Eq. (5.2.5); deformation IO moment of inertia about O
spectrum ordinate k stiffness or spring constant
D coefficient in Eq. (5.2.5) k stiffness matrix
Dy yield deformation spectrum k̂ see Eq. (5.3.5) or (5.4.14)
ordinate k̃ generalized stiffness
e eccentricity of rotating mass ki (ki )T
E modulus of elasticity k̂i defined in Eq. (5.7.6)
ED energy dissipated by (ki )sec secant stiffness at time i
damping (ki )T tangent stiffness at time i
EF energy dissipated by friction kj stiffness of jth story
EI input energy kT (ki )T
EK kinetic energy k̂ T defined in Eq. (5.7.8)
EKo maximum kinetic energy L width of frame; length of
ES strain energy beam or tower
E So maximum strain energy L̃ see Eqs. (8.3.12) and (8.4.12)
EY energy dissipated by yielding
L̃ θ defined in Eq. (8.4.18)
E I (x) flexural rigidity
m(x) mass per unit length
f exciting or forcing frequency
m mass
(Hz)
m mass matrix
fD damping force
m̃ generalized mass
fI inertia force
me eccentrically rotating mass
f I (x, t) distributed inertia forces mj mass at jth DOF or jth floor
fI j inertia force in DOF j M(x, t) bending moments in a
f jo peak value of force at jth distributed-mass system
floor Ma , M b bending moments at nodes a
fn natural frequency and b
(undamped) (Hz) Mb base overturning moment
f o (x) peak value of f S (x, t) Mbo peak value of Mb (t)
fS elastic or inelastic resisting Mio peak value of ith-floor
force; equivalent static force overturning moment
( f S )i value of f S at time i Mo (x) peak value of M(x, t)
f˜S (u, u̇) defined by Eq. (7.3.3) N normal force between sliding
f So , f o peak value of f S (t) surfaces; number of DOFs
fT transmitted force p external force
fy yield strength P(ω) Fourier transform of p(t)
f¯y normalized yield strength p̃(t) generalized external force
F friction force peff effective earthquake force
g acceleration due to gravity ( peff )o peak value of peff (t)
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808 Notation App. B

pi value of p(t) at time i u̇ i velocity at time i

p̂i defined in Eq. (5.3.6) ü i acceleration at ith peak;
po amplitude of p(t) acceleration at time i
r (t) any response quantity uj relative displacement of jth
ro max |r (t)|, the peak response floor
t
Ra acceleration response factor u cj (t) response to p(t) =
Rd deformation (or displacement) p0 cos jω0 t
response factor u sj (t) response to p(t) =
Rv velocity response factor p0 sin jω0 t
Ry yield reduction factor u tj total displacement of jth
s constant in est floor
t time u jo peak or maximum value of
t time variable u j (t)
td duration of pulse force u̇ jo maximum value of u̇ j (t)
ti time at ith peak in free um max |u(t)| for an inelastic
t
vibration; time at end of ith system
time step u−
m | min[u(t)]|
t
to time when u(t) is maximum u+ max[u(t)]
m
tr rise time t
Ta , Tb , Tc , periods that define spectral uo peak or maximum value of
Td , Te , T f regions u(t)
TD natural period (damped) u̇ o peak value of u̇(t)
Tn natural period (undamped) u o (x) peak or maximum value of
T0 period of periodic excitation u(x, t)
TR transmissibility u̇ o (x) maximum value of u̇ o (x, t)
u displacement; deformation; u to peak value of u t (t)
displacement relative to ü to peak value of ü t (t)
ground up particular solution; permanent
ut total displacement deformation
u vector of displacements u j u st (t) static deformation due
û(iω) Fourier transform of u(t) to p(t)
u(0) initial displacement (u st )o static deformation due to po
u̇(0) initial velocity ux , u y x and y displacements
ua , ub displacements of nodes a and b uy yield deformation
uc complementary solution u 0 (t) response to p(t) = a0
uF F/k uθ rotation about a vertical axis
ug ground (or support) v velocity
displacement V pseudo-velocity spectrum
ü g ground (or support) ordinate
acceleration V(x, t) shearing forces in a
u go peak ground displacement distributed-mass system
u̇ go peak ground velocity Va , Vb shearing forces at nodes a
ü go peak ground acceleration and b
u gθ ground rotation about a Vb base shear
vertical axis Vbo peak value of Vb (t)
ui displacement at ith peak; Vbo peak value of Vb (t)
displacement at time i Vj shear in the jth story
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Part II: Chapters 9–17 809

Vjo peak value of Vj (t) x, y Cartesian coordinates

Vo (x) peak value of V(x, t) z generalized displacement
Vy ωn u y zo peak value of z(t)
w weight 1 vector of ones

Greek Symbols

α A , α D , αV spectral amplification factors ε duration of an impulsive

β parameter in Newmark’s force
method ζ damping ratio
βj jω0 /ωn ζ̄ numerical damping ratio
γ parameter in Newmark’s ζeq equivalent viscous damping
method ratio
˜ L̃/m̃ η rate-independent damping
δ logarithmic decrement coefficient
δ(·) Dirac delta function θ̈ rotational acceleration
δst mg/k θa , θb rotations at nodes a
δu(x) virtual displacements and b
δu virtual displacement vector θg ground rotation about a
δu j virtual displacement u j horizontal axis
δW E external virtual work κ(x) curvature
δW I internal virtual work µ coefficient of friction;
δz virtual displacement ductility factor
δκ(x) virtual curvature ρ Ib /4Ic ; coefficient in
j story drift in jth story ±ρe−ζ ωn t
 p̂  p̂i σ standard deviation
pi increment in p(t) over time τ dummy time variable
step i φ phase angle
 p̂i see Eq. (5.4.15) ψ(x) shape function
t time step ψ shape vector
ti time step i ψj jth element of ψ
u u i ω exciting or forcing frequency
u i increment in u i over time (rad/sec)
step i ωD natural frequency (damped)
u̇ i increment in u̇ over time (rad/sec)
step i ωn natural frequency
ü i increment in ü over time (undamped) (rad/sec)
step i ω0 2π/T0

PART II: CHAPTERS 9–17

Roman Symbols

ae element transformation al coefficients in Caughey

matrix series
ain defined by Eq. (14.4.11) axi , a yi transformation matrices
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810 Notation App. B

a0 , a1 Rayleigh damping fn (t) equivalent static forces,

coefficients mode n
A direct assembly operator f no (x) peak value of f n (x, t)
An pseudo-acceleration spectrum fS elastic resisting forces
ordinate A(Tn , ζn ) f S (u, u̇) inelastic resisting forces
An (t) pseudo-acceleration of fS A lateral force on frame A
nth-mode SDF system f Sg , f Sg (t) equivalent static forces in
Anl (t) An (t) due to ü gl (t) support DOFs
c damping matrix fSj elastic or inelastic resisting
c̃ defined by Eq. (14.3.4) force in DOF j
ci j damping influence f yn peak value of f yn (t)
coefficient f yn (t) equivalent static lateral
cj jth-story damping forces, mode n
coefficient fθ n peak value of fθ n (t)
cn nth-mode damping matrix fθ n (t) equivalent static torques,
C ΦT cΦ, diagonal matrix of Cn mode n
Cn generalized damping for nth h height of one-story frame;
mode story height
Cnr element of C hj height of jth floor
Dn (t) deformation of nth-mode h ∗n effective modal height,
SDF system mode n
Dnl (t) Dn (t) due to ü gl (t) I second moment of area
Dno peak value of Dn (t) I identity matrix
eJ error in static response; error Ib I for beam
norm of Eq. (14.5.3) Ic I for column
E modulus of elasticity IO diagonal matrix: I j j = I O j
EI flexural rigidity IO j moment of inertia of jth floor
f̂ flexibility matrix about O
∗
I On defined by Eq. (13.3.10)
f D , f D (t) damping forces
fDj damping force in DOF j J number of Ritz vectors
k stiffness matrix
fˆi j flexibility influence
coefficient ǩ k − µm
fI inertia forces k̃ defined by Eq. (14.3.4);
fI j inertia force in DOF j matrix of k̃i j in Eq. (17.1.4)
fin peak value of fin (t) kA stiffness matrix of frame A in
fin (t) equivalent static forces: global DOF
frame i, mode n ke element stiffness matrix in
f jn jth element of fn ; peak value global element DOFs
of f jn (t) k̄e element stiffness matrix in
f jn (t) equivalent static force: DOF local element coordinates
j, mode n klgg lth column of kgg
f j yn jth element of f yn ki stiffness matrix of frame i in
f jθ n jth element of fθn global DOF
fn nth natural frequency k̂i see Tables 15.3.1 and 15.3.3
(undamped) (Hz) ki j stiffness influence coefficient
f n (x, t) equivalent static forces, mode kj stiffness of jth story
n k̂tt condensed stiffness matrix
fn peak value of fn (t) k̂T k̂i
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Part II: Chapters 9–17 811

k xi , k yi lateral stiffness of frame i in p(λ) polynomial in λ

x and y directions pe element force vector in global
kxi , k yi lateral stiffness matrix of element DOFs
frame i in x and y directions p̄e element force vector in local
ky lateral stiffness of frame A element coordinates
kθ y , k yθ , kθθ submatrices of k peff effective earthquake force
K diagonal matrix of K n peff effective earthquake force
K̂ see Tables 15.2.1 and 15.2.2 vector
Kn generalized stiffness, mode n pg support forces
L length of beam; length of psg (t) quasi-static support forces
finite element pj external force at jth DOF or
L nh see Eq. (13.2.3) or (16.6.2) jth floor
L θn see Eq. (13.2.9b) or (16.6.17) po maximum value of p(t)
L nl defined by Eq. (13.5.3) pt external forces in ut DOF
m mass of an SDF system P(t) T p(t)
m mass matrix P(t) vector of Pn (t)
m̃ defined by Eq. (14.3.4); P̂i defined in Table 15.2.1
matrix of m̃ i j in Eq. (17.1.4) Pn (t) generalized force, mode n
m(x) mass per unit length q modal coordinate vector
me element mass matrix in global qi modal coordinates at time i
element DOFs qn (t) nth modal coordinate
m̄e element mass matrix in local r radius of gyration
element coordinates r (t) any response quantity
mi j mass influence coefficient rn peak value of rn (t)
mj mass at jth DOF or jth floor r̄n nth modal contribution factor
mtt mass matrix for ut DOF rn (t) r (t) due to mode n
M diagonal matrix of M j rno peak value of rn (t)
M(x, t) bending moment in a ro peak value of r (t)
distributed-mass system r st static response to forces s
Mb bending moment at the base rnst nth modal static response
Mbn (t) Mb (t) due to mode n Rdn dynamic response factor for
Mbn (t) Mb (t) due to mode n nth-mode SDF system
Mstbn nth modal static response Mb s, sa , sb spatial distributions of p(t)
st
Mbn nth modal static response Mb s jn jth element of sn
Mi ith-floor overturning moment s j yn jth element of s yn
st
Min nth modal static response Mi s jθ n jth element of sθ n
Mn generalized mass, mode n sn defined by Eq. (12.8.4) or
Mn∗ effective modal mass, (13.1.6)
mode n sn (x) defined by Eq. (16.6.4)
N number of DOFs s yn , sθ n subvectors of sn
Nd number of modes responding t time variable
dynamically td duration of pulse force
Ne number of finite elements Tb base torque
Ng number of ground (or Tbn peak value of Tbn (t)
Tbnst nth modal static response Tb
support) displacements
O null matrix Tbn (t) Tb (t) due to mode n
p external force Ti ith-story torque
p external forces Tin (t) Ti (t) due to mode n
p̃ vector of p̃i in Eq. (17.2.6) Tinst nth modal static response Ti
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812 Notation App. B

Tn nth natural period n (x)

u st nth modal static response
(undamped) u(x)
u displacement or deformation ut dynamic DOF
u displacement vector ux , u y x and y displacements of CM
us quasi-static displacements ü tx , ü ty , ü tθ x, y, and θ components of
ut total displacements total acceleration
uA displacement at frame A uy y-lateral displacements
ue element displacements in u yn (t) u y (t) due to mode n
global element DOFs u0 DOF with zero mass
ug ground (or support) ū 5n nth modal contribution factor
displacement for u 5
ug ground (or support) uθ rotation about CM
displacement vector uθ floor rotations
ü g ground (or support) uθ n (t) uθ (t) due to mode n
acceleration V(x, t) transverse shear force in a
u gl lth support displacement distributed-mass system
ü gx , ü gy , ü gθ x, y, and θ components of Vb peak value of Vb (t)
ground acceleration Vb base shear
ui displacement in DOF i Vb (t) base shear
ui lateral displacements of frame Vbst Vb due to forces s
i; displacements at time i Vbn peak value of Vbn (t)
uin ui due to mode n V̄bn nth modal contribution factor
uj peak value of u j (t) for Vb
u j (t) relative displacement at DOF Vbn (t) Vb (t) due to mode n
j or floor j Vbn (t) Vb (t) due to mode n
u sj quasi-static displacement at Vbnst nth modal static response Vb
DOF j Vbn
st nth modal static response Vb
u tj total displacement at DOF j Vbo peak value of Vb (t)
or floor j Vi peak value of Vi (t)
u jn peak value of u jn (t) Vi (t) ith-story shear
u stjn nth modal static response u j Vinst nth modal static response Vi
u jn (t) u j (t) due to mode n x, y Cartesian coordinates
ujx , ujy displacements of CM of floor xi , yi define location of frame i
j along x and y axes xi iteration vector
u j yn peak value of u j yn (t) yn eigenvector of A; defined by
u jθ rotation of floor j about CM Eq. (14.4.10)
u jθ n peak value of u jθ n (t) z generalized coordinate vector
un peak value of un (t) zj generalized coordinates
un (t) u(t) due to mode n zn eigenvector
ust
n nth modal static response u 0 vector of zeros
u n (x, t) u(x, t) due to mode n 1 vector of ones

Greek Symbols

β parameter in Newmark’s method n see Eq. (12.8.3) or (13.2.3)

βin ωi /ωn nl defined by Eq. (13.5.3)
γ parameter in Newmark’s method δu(x) virtual displacement u(x)
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Part III: Chapters 18–21 813

δui increment in u over extended κ shear stress constant

time step i λ( j) estimate of eigenvalue
δ üi increment in ü over extended λ̌ λ−µ
time step i λn nth eigenvalue
δ u̇i increment in u̇ over extended µ absorber mass ratio; shift of
time step i eigenvalue spectrum
δu j virtual displacement u j ν complex eigenvalue
δW E external virtual work ρ(z) Rayleigh’s quotient
δW I internal virtual work ρin cross-correlation coefficient
δ(·) Dirac delta function for modes i and n
j peak value of  j (t) ρn eigenvalue
 j (t) jth-story deformation or φ jn jth element of φn
drift φ j yn , φ jθ n jth elements of φ yn and φθ n
∆p̂i see Tables 15.3.1 and 15.3.3 φn (x) nth natural vibration mode
∆qi increment in q over time step i φ̃n (x) approximation to φn (x)
∆q̇i increment in q̇ over time step i
φ̃n approximation to φn
∆q̈i increment in q̈ over time step i
φn nth natural vibration mode
∆R( j) residual forces
φ yn , φθ n subvectors of φn
t time step
Φ modal matrix
∆u incremental displacements
ψ ψ1 ψ2 · · · ψ J 
∆u( j) ∆u in jth iteration ψ(x) ψ1 (x) ψ2 (x) · · · ψ N (x)
∆ui increment in u over time step i ψi (x) trial, Ritz, or shape function;
∆u̇i increment in u̇ over time step i finite element interpolation
∆üi increment in ü over time step i function
j peak value of  j (t)
ψ̂i (x) beam interpolation function
 jn (t)  j (t) due to mode n
ψj shape vector or Ritz vector
 jn peak value of  jn (t)
in defined by Eq. (13.7.7a) ψ̂n defined by Eq. (14.4.12)
ζn damping ratio for nth mode ω exciting or forcing frequency
ζn defined by Eq. (13.7.7b) ωn nth natural frequency
θ parameter in Wilson’s method (undamped) (rad/sec)
θg ground rotation about a ωn ωn of a beam considering
horizontal axis rotational inertia and shear
ι influence vector; influence effects
matrix ω̃n approximation to ωn
ιl influence vector for u gl Ω2 spectral matrix

PART III: CHAPTERS 18–21

Roman Symbols

A pseudo-acceleration spectrum ordinate cb damping coefficient of isolation system

Am maximum A/g, MFDC cf damping matrix of fixed-base
Ay A for yielding system system
c damping coefficient of fixed- C numerical coefficient, UBC
base system Ce elastic seismic coefficient
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814 Notation App. B

Cs seismic coefficient Tb natural period of (1) the

eJ error in static response isolated building assumed
[Eq. (18.7.1)] as rigid, or (2) the
E Ib flexural rigidity of beams isolation system with rigid
E Ic flexural rigidity of columns building
f jn lateral force: floor j, mode n Tb , Tc periods defining the
fy design yield strength constant-A spectral region
F foundation factor, NBCC Tf natural period of fixed-base
Fj code lateral force at floor j system
Ft additional lateral force at the Tn natural period of SDF system;
top floor, UBC nth natural period of MDF
h story height system
hj height of jth floor Tn f nth natural period of
I importance factor, UBC; fixed-base system
seismic importance factor, ub isolator deformation
NBCC u bn u b due to mode n
J, Ji reduction factors for u st
bn nth modal static response u b
overturning moments ui ith-floor displacement due to
k lateral stiffness of fixed-base forces Fj ( j = 1, 2, . . . , N )
system u jm max |u j (t)| for an inelastic
t
kb lateral stiffness of isolation system system
kf stiffness matrix of fixed-base uy yield displacement
system U coefficient in NBCC
kj stiffness of jth story v zonal velocity ratio, NBCC
Lb length of beams Vb base shear
Lc length of columns (1) (2)
Vb , Vb two parts of Vb , MFDC
m lumped mass of fixed-based
Vby yield strength value of Vb
system
V̄by normalized value of Vby
mb mass of base slab
Vj jth-story shear
mf mass matrix of fixed-base
Vj y jth-story yield strength
system
w weight of SDF system
Q seismic behavior factor, MFDC
wi weight at ith floor
Q seismic reduction factor, MFDC
W total weight of building; total
r coefficient in Ce , MFDC
dead load and applicable
R force modification factor,
portion of other loads
NBCC
Z seismic zone factor, UBC
Rw structural system coefficient,
Za acceleration-related seismic
UBC
zone, NBCC
S site coefficient, UBC;
Zv velocity-related seismic zone,
seismic response factor,
NBCC
NBCC

Greek Symbols

α, β coefficients in least- j jth-story deformation or drift

square-error fit of Vb –T1  jm peak value of  j (t) for an
curve inelastic system
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Appendix A 815

j y yield deformation for jth ζn f ζ for nth mode of fixed-base

story system
ζ damping ratio µ ductility factor
ζb ζ of isolation system with φn f nth mode of fixed-base system
rigid building ωf natural frequency of
ζf ζ for fixed-base system fixed-base system

APPENDIX A

Roman Symbols

c damping coefficient P(ω) Fourier transform of p(t)

h(t) unit impulse response Pj Fourier coefficient (complex
Hj H (ω j ); see Eq. (A.5.7) valued) for p(t)
H (ω) complex frequency response Pj∗ complex conjugate of Pj
Hu (ω) complex frequency response td duration of excitation
for u(t) tf duration of free vibration
k stiffness Tn natural period (undamped)
m mass T0 period of periodic extension
M number of harmonics in of p(t)
truncated series u displacement; deformation
N number of equally spaced u(t) “exact” response
time instants ũ(t) steady-state response by DFT
p external force method
pn p(tn ) ≡ p(n t) (u st )o static deformaton due to po
po amplitude of p(t) Uj see Eq. (A.2.8) or (A.5.8)

Greek Symbols

βj jω0 /ωn ωD natural frequency (damped)

δ(·) Dirac delta function (rad/sec)
t sampling interval ωj jω0
ζ damping ratio ωmax Nyquist frequency; folding
η rate-independent damping frequency; see Eq. (A.5.5)
coefficient ωn natural frequency
υ(t) corrective solution (undamped) (rad/sec)
ω excitation or forcing ω0 2π/T0
frequency (rad/sec)
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