Abstract

Seismic performance evaluation of reinforced cement concrete (RCC) buildings is critical for ensuring structural safety and resilience in earthquake-prone regions. This article presents a comprehensive study on the seismic analysis and performance assessment of multi-story RCC buildings using ETABS (Extended Three-Dimensional Analysis of Building Systems) software. The study examines fundamental principles of seismic design, structural modeling techniques, analysis methodologies including linear static, linear dynamic, nonlinear static pushover, and nonlinear time-history analysis. Key parameters investigated include lateral load resistance, story drift, inter-story drift ratio, base shear distribution, plastic hinge formation, and structural ductility. The research evaluates performance levels ranging from immediate occupancy to collapse prevention under varying seismic intensities. Material constitutive models, boundary conditions, load combinations, and code compliance verification are systematically addressed. Applications demonstrate ETABS capabilities for analyzing regular and irregular building configurations, evaluating retrofitting strategies, and optimizing structural designs. The study identifies critical challenges including computational complexity for high-rise structures, modeling uncertainties, soil-structure interaction effects, and limitations of simplified analysis methods. Future perspectives highlight integration with building information modeling, artificial intelligence-based optimization, real-time structural health monitoring, and performance-based seismic design frameworks. The findings provide valuable insights for structural engineers, researchers, and practitioners engaged in seismic-resistant building design and assessment using advanced computational tools.