This document discusses modal response spectrum analysis for earthquake engineering. Some key points:
- The equations of motion for a multi-degree of freedom structural system can be decoupled into individual single-degree of freedom equations through modal analysis.
- Mode shapes are orthogonal and form a modal matrix that transforms displacement coordinates into modal coordinates. This results in uncoupled equations for each vibration mode.
- Earthquake excitation is represented as a modal force vector. Response of each mode is then determined independently through its modal mass, stiffness and damping.
- Participation factors relate the modal displacements back to the physical displacements of the structure and determine the effective modal weight contributing to response in each mode.