{"id":33494,"date":"2026-04-27T12:53:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T12:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/technical-manuals\/structural-modelling\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T12:37:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T12:37:46","slug":"seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members","status":"publish","type":"wiki","link":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Seismic Forces On Non Structural Members"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

<\/a>Introduction<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n

ProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces
\naccording to <\/span>EC8 Chapter 4.3.5<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the current document, calculations details about non-structural
\nmembers earthquake force and parameters such as seismic coefficient are
\nexplained.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>Building Model Details<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n
The example building model consists of 7 regular floors. 3D and
\ntypical story plan view are shown below.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\"Notes\"<\/p>\n
Ensure that Building Analysis is successfully completed.  Check and verify the analysis results is correct using procedures in this article :<\/span>  Building a Model Guideline<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/a>
<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

User Interface<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n
1.  Go to Loading<\/b> tab > Select Non-Structural Component Loads. 
<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
    \n
  1. The Non Structural Member Force Calculator will be launched. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n
    2.  Click "Add Membe<\/b>r" to add member 
    <\/span><\/div>\n
    3.  <\/font>Member label,<\/b> Non-structural member type<\/b> according to EC8 Table 4.4, Weight , Elevation<\/b> from the base must be set by the user. <\/span><\/div>\n
      \n
    1. The other parameters such as seismic coefficient and member forces are calculated according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5
      <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Seismic Coefficient<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


      <\/span><\/div>\n

      According to <\/span>EC8 4.3.5.2 (2)<\/span><\/b> seismic coefficient, <\/span>Sa<\/span><\/b> is defined as,
      \n\u201cSeismic coefficient applicable to non-structural elements\u201d. Calculation
      \ndetails are given in subclause<\/span> 4.3.5.2 (3) <\/span><\/b>which states the formula <\/span>(4.25)<\/span><\/b>  given below. 
      <\/span><\/p>\n

      \n

      \n
      \n


      <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      \u03b1          <\/span><\/span><\/i>:
      \nRatio of the design ground acceleration on type A ground, <\/span><\/span>\u03b1<\/span>g<\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/i>,
      \nto the acceleration of gravity g<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      S<\/span>          <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>:
      \nSoil factor<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      T<\/span>a<\/span>           <\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/i>:
      \nFundamental vibration period of the non-structural element<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      T<\/span>1<\/span>           <\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/i>:
      \nFundamental vibration period of the building in the relevant direction<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      z<\/span>          <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>: Height of the non-structural
      \nelement above the level of application of the seismic
      <\/span>   <\/span><\/span>action
      \n(foundation or top of a rigid basement)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      H<\/span>         <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>:
      \nBuilding height measured from the foundation or the top of a rigid basement<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n

      <\/p>\n

      <\/div>\n<\/p>\n

      <\/a>Seismic Force<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      According to <\/span>EC8 4.3.5.2 (2)<\/span><\/b> horizontal seismic force, F<\/span>a<\/span><\/sub>, is defined as,\u201d
      \nthe horizontal seismic force, acting at the center of mass of the
      \nnon-structural element in the most unfavorable direction\u201d. Calculation details
      \nare given in subclause <\/span>4.3.5.2 (3)<\/span><\/b> which states the formula <\/span>(4.24)<\/span><\/b>  given below.<\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/span>
      <\/span><\/p>\n

      S<\/span>a<\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/i>        <\/span><\/span>: Seismic
      \ncoefficient applicable to non-structural members <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      W<\/span>a<\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/i>          <\/span><\/span><\/sub>: Weight
      \nof the non-structural member<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      q<\/span>a<\/span><\/sub><\/span><\/i>         <\/span><\/span>: Behavior
      \nfactor of the non-structural member<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      \u03b3<\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span><\/sub><\/i>         <\/span><\/span>: Importance
      \nfactor for the member, according to <\/span>EC8. 4.3.5.3<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n


      <\/b><\/div>\n<\/p>\n

      <\/a>Summary<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n

      <\/b><\/p>\n

      <\/span><\/p>\n

      In this article, calculation details of seismic forces
      \nacting on the non-structural elements according to <\/span>EC8. Clause 4.3.5<\/span><\/b> is
      \nexplained. Results of the \u201cNon-Structural Member Force Calculator\u201d macro are
      \nverified with hand calculations. <\/span><\/p>\n

      <\/span>Additionally, ProtaStructure can calculate Seismic Forces on Non-Structural Members according to (ASCE 7 – 16). User \u0131nterface and calculation details are given as attached.  <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Introduction ProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5. In the current document, calculations details about non-structural members earthquake force and parameters such…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_whitepaper_youtube_videos":"","_whitepaper_youtube_url":"","_whitepaper_youtube_thumbnail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[185],"whitepaper_topic":[],"whitepaper_product":[],"whitepaper_type":[],"class_list":["post-33494","wiki","type-wiki","status-publish","hentry","category-structural-modelling"],"yoast_head":"\nSeismic Forces On Non Structural Members - Prota Software<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"IntroductionProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5.In the current document, calculations details about\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Prota Software\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"IntroductionProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5.In the current document, calculations details about\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Prota Software\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-19T12:37:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/desk.zoho.com\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Prota Software\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/\",\"name\":\"Seismic Forces On Non Structural Members - Prota Software\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/desk.zoho.com\\\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-27T12:53:47+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-19T12:37:46+00:00\",\"description\":\"IntroductionProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5.In the current document, calculations details about\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/desk.zoho.com\\\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/desk.zoho.com\\\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Wiki\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wiki\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Seismic Forces On Non Structural Members\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Prota Software\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Prota Software\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/prota-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/prota-logo.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":340,\"caption\":\"Prota Software\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/protasoftware.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Seismic Forces On Non Structural Members - Prota Software","description":"IntroductionProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5.In the current document, calculations details about","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Prota Software","og_description":"IntroductionProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5.In the current document, calculations details about","og_url":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/","og_site_name":"Prota Software","article_modified_time":"2026-06-19T12:37:46+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/desk.zoho.com\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Prota Software","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/","url":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/","name":"Seismic Forces On Non Structural Members - Prota Software","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/desk.zoho.com\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44","datePublished":"2026-04-27T12:53:47+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-19T12:37:46+00:00","description":"IntroductionProtaStructure calculates non-structural member forces according to EC8 Chapter 4.3.5.In the current document, calculations details about","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/desk.zoho.com\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44","contentUrl":"https:\/\/desk.zoho.com\/DocsDisplay?zgId=672206093&mode=inline&blockId=o8v35537a8a674f7041d6a4406fe0b0aaae44"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/seismic-forces-on-non-structural-members\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Wiki","item":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wiki\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Seismic Forces On Non Structural Members"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/","name":"Prota Software","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/#organization","name":"Prota Software","url":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/prota-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/prota-logo.png","width":1200,"height":340,"caption":"Prota Software"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki\/33494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wiki"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki\/33494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36423,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki\/33494\/revisions\/36423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33494"},{"taxonomy":"whitepaper_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/whitepaper_topic?post=33494"},{"taxonomy":"whitepaper_product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/whitepaper_product?post=33494"},{"taxonomy":"whitepaper_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/protasoftware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/whitepaper_type?post=33494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}