Seismic performance assessment of a medium-rise concrete building under multiple earthquake scenarios using STAAD Pro

This study examines the seismic performance of a medium-rise reinforced concrete building in Malaysia using STAAD Pro software, a widely adopted analytical tool in structural engineering practice. The building is modelled and subjected to seismic simulations based on ground motion data from four significant earthquake events: Cheutsu-Oki, Trinidad, Northridge, and Chi-Chi. The assessment focuses on key structural response parameters, namely shear force, bending moment, and deflection, to evaluate the building’s behaviour under varying seismic intensities. The results demonstrate clear differences in structural response among the earthquake scenarios, with the Northridge event producing the highest stress demands and displacement levels, indicating its governing severity. These findings highlight the critical importance of resilient structural design and continuous improvement of seismic mitigation strategies, even in regions of low-to-moderate seismicity. The novelty of this study lies in its comparative evaluation of multiple real earthquake ground motions applied to a Malaysian medium-rise concrete building using a consistent analytical framework, providing new insight into seismic demand sensitivity and performance trends in low-to-moderate seismic regions. Overall, the study provides meaningful insights for enhancing the seismic resilience of medium-rise concrete structures, contributing to safer and more robust urban built environments.