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| Illustration by Ai |
A structural evaluation of a 10-story hotel building in Manado, North Sulawesi, has shown that the building is capable of meeting key earthquake performance targets under internationally recognized seismic standards. The study was conducted by Rudolf E. P. Mait, Carter D. E. Kandou, Olivia Moningka, and Fandel Maluw from Politeknik Negeri Manado and published in 2026 in the Jurnal Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA). Using advanced nonlinear structural modeling through SeismoStruct software and the ASCE 41-17 seismic evaluation standard, the researchers found that the existing reinforced concrete structure can safely withstand both moderate and severe earthquake scenarios, providing valuable evidence for improving the safety assessment of high-rise buildings in earthquake-prone regions.
As Indonesia continues to expand
its urban infrastructure, ensuring the safety of existing buildings has become
increasingly important. The country sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of
the world's most active seismic zones, making earthquake-resistant construction
a national priority. While modern buildings are designed under updated seismic
codes, many existing structures were built under earlier regulations. These
buildings require periodic evaluations to determine whether they still meet
current safety expectations and whether retrofitting is necessary.
Structural performance assessment
has become more sophisticated with the development of advanced engineering
software. Instead of relying solely on conventional design verification,
engineers can now simulate how a building behaves throughout an earthquake,
from the initial elastic response to potential structural damage. This approach
allows engineers to identify vulnerable areas before an actual disaster occurs,
helping reduce risks to occupants and minimizing economic losses.
Recognizing this need, the
research team from Politeknik Negeri Manado evaluated an existing
ten-story hotel building using SeismoStruct, a structural analysis
platform capable of performing nonlinear simulations that closely represent
real earthquake behavior. Unlike many previous studies that primarily focused
on code compliance or linear analysis, this research assessed the building's
performance according to ASCE 41-17 Basic Performance Objectives for
Existing Buildings (BPOE), an internationally recognized framework for
evaluating existing structures under seismic loading.
The researchers adopted a
quantitative case study approach based on an existing hotel building in Manado.
Rather than collecting new construction data, they relied on comprehensive as-built
drawings, including architectural layouts, structural plans, reinforcement
details, beam and column schedules, slab dimensions, and material
specifications. These documents were used to construct a detailed
three-dimensional digital model of the building within SeismoStruct.
The evaluation process consisted
of several stages. First, the researchers reviewed the available structural
documents to determine the geometry, reinforcement configuration, and material
properties of the building. They then developed a complete three-dimensional
structural model representing reinforced concrete beams, columns, and floor
systems. Gravity loads and earthquake loads were applied incrementally through
a nonlinear static pushover analysis, allowing the researchers to
observe how the building responded as seismic forces increased.
The building was analyzed in both
the longitudinal and transverse directions to evaluate its overall structural
behavior. The assessment focused on several critical engineering indicators,
including:
- Base shear capacity.
- Roof displacement.
- Inter-story drift.
- Plastic hinge formation.
- Overall structural performance level.
- Distribution of structural damage throughout the
building.
The performance evaluation
followed the classification defined in ASCE 41-17, which categorizes
structural behavior into Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and
Collapse Prevention (CP). These categories indicate how well a building can
continue functioning after experiencing different levels of earthquake
intensity.
One of the most significant
findings was that the building successfully achieved its target displacement
under both seismic hazard levels evaluated in the study.
Specifically, the researchers
found that:
- The structure remained stable under the BSE-1E
earthquake, representing a seismic event with approximately a 20
percent probability of occurrence within 50 years and corresponding to
the Life Safety performance objective.
- The building also satisfied the requirements for the
much stronger BSE-2E earthquake, representing approximately a 5
percent probability of occurrence within 50 years and corresponding to
the Collapse Prevention performance objective.
- The generated pushover curve demonstrated that the
reinforced concrete frame maintained sufficient lateral resistance until
reaching the required displacement targets.
- No evidence suggested that the structural system
would experience premature collapse under the evaluated seismic demands.
- Overall, the building exhibited acceptable nonlinear
structural behavior according to internationally accepted seismic
evaluation criteria.
These findings indicate that the
evaluated hotel building possesses sufficient seismic capacity to meet current
structural performance expectations for an existing reinforced concrete
building. The study also demonstrates how nonlinear structural analysis
provides deeper insight into building performance than traditional design
checks, allowing engineers to understand not only whether a building meets code
requirements but also how it behaves throughout increasingly severe earthquake
events.
Beyond confirming the structural
integrity of the evaluated building, the research offers practical guidance for
engineers, developers, and government agencies responsible for managing
existing high-rise infrastructure. Indonesia is home to thousands of buildings
that were constructed before the latest seismic regulations came into effect.
Many of these structures remain in daily use as hotels, offices, apartments,
hospitals, and educational facilities. Performance-based evaluations such as
the one conducted in this study allow building owners to determine whether
these structures continue to meet modern safety expectations without
immediately resorting to expensive reconstruction.
The researchers also demonstrate
the growing value of SeismoStruct as an engineering tool for seismic
assessment. Unlike conventional structural calculations that mainly verify
design compliance, SeismoStruct simulates how structural components
progressively behave under increasing earthquake forces. This enables engineers
to identify vulnerable structural zones, monitor damage development, and
estimate how close a building comes to critical performance limits during a
major earthquake.
The study has several important
implications for different sectors.
For the construction industry,
the findings support wider adoption of nonlinear structural analysis during the
evaluation of existing buildings, particularly in regions with high seismic
risk.
For structural engineers, the
research provides an example of how ASCE 41-17 performance objectives
can be integrated with Indonesian seismic regulations to produce more
comprehensive building safety assessments.
For policymakers and local
governments, the study reinforces the importance of periodic structural
evaluations for aging buildings. Regular inspections combined with
performance-based analysis can help prioritize retrofitting programs, reduce
disaster risks, and improve public safety in rapidly growing urban areas.
For property owners and
developers, the results indicate that maintaining complete construction
documentation, including accurate as-built drawings, is essential for future
structural assessments. Reliable records significantly improve the accuracy of
numerical simulations and engineering decisions.
Although the evaluated building
demonstrated satisfactory seismic performance, the researchers emphasize that
structural safety should never be considered permanent. Buildings continue to
age, construction materials gradually deteriorate, and occupancy patterns may
change over time. Environmental conditions, renovations, or increased
structural loads can also influence long-term performance.
According to the researchers from
Politeknik Negeri Manado, the successful achievement of the target
displacement under both BSE-1E and BSE-2E earthquake scenarios
indicates that the existing structural system possesses adequate seismic
capacity within the evaluated performance objectives. Nevertheless, they
recommend periodic maintenance, regular structural monitoring, and
re-evaluation whenever there are changes in building function, occupancy,
structural configuration, or surrounding environmental conditions. Such
measures help ensure that the building continues to operate safely throughout
its service life.
The authors also acknowledge
several limitations of the study. The structural model was developed using
secondary data from as-built drawings rather than direct field testing of
construction materials. The analysis employed nonlinear static pushover analysis
instead of nonlinear time-history simulations that more closely reproduce
actual earthquake ground motions. In addition, soil-structure interaction,
foundation flexibility, and nonstructural building components were not included
in the evaluation. Future research incorporating these factors could provide an
even more comprehensive understanding of seismic performance.
Despite these limitations, the
study represents an important contribution to earthquake engineering in
Indonesia. By combining advanced nonlinear structural modeling with
internationally recognized seismic performance standards, the research provides
engineers with a practical framework for evaluating existing high-rise
buildings. As urban development continues across Indonesia's earthquake-prone
regions, performance-based structural assessment will become increasingly
valuable for improving public safety, supporting sustainable infrastructure
management, and strengthening disaster resilience.
Author Profile
Rudolf E. P. Mait is a
researcher from Politeknik Negeri Manado specializing in structural
engineering and earthquake-resistant building analysis.
Carter D. E. Kandou is a
researcher and lecturer at Politeknik Negeri Manado whose expertise
includes structural engineering, seismic performance evaluation, reinforced
concrete structures, and computational structural analysis. He served as the
corresponding author of this study.
Olivia Moningka is a
researcher from Politeknik Negeri Manado whose academic interests
include civil engineering, structural evaluation, and infrastructure safety.
Fandel Maluw is a researcher from Politeknik Negeri Manado specializing in structural engineering, building performance assessment, and earthquake-resistant construction.
Source
Article Title: Structural
Performance of a 10-Story Building Using SeismoStruct Software
Journal: Jurnal
Multidisiplin Madani (MUDIMA)
Publication Year: 2026
Volume & Pages: Vol.
6, No. 6, June 2026, pp. 731–740
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/mudima.v6i6.66
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