# Seismic & how it affects specific building elements

**URL:** <https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/seismic-how-it-affects-specific-building-elements/6480>\
**Category:** Project Planning & Design\
**Created:** [February 17, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/seismic-how-it-affects-specific-building-elements/6480 "2025-02-17T18:04:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![kiaragalicinao](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/community.blackspectacles.com/kiaragalicinao/32/1607_2.png) [@kiaragalicinao](https://community.blackspectacles.com/u/kiaragalicinao)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/seismic-how-it-affects-specific-building-elements/6480/2 "2025-02-19T17:14:24Z")

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Welcome to the ARE Community @joanna! We are happy to have you here.

I found a few previous threads about this topic:

> [@Stiffest structure in seismic design?](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/stiffest-structure-in-seismic-design/4142):
>
> Hi @coachmarissayee what is the most stiff structure in seismic design? I thought it was braced but I found that it’s shear is that correct? Is there a difference between stiffness and strength? Like comparing moment frame, braced frame, and shear frame?

> [@Seismic structure and wind loads](https://community.blackspectacles.com/t/seismic-structure-and-wind-loads/3645):
>
> On seismic structures, what is the ideal structure for to avoid the building failing laterally? I read some of Fema 454 and I understand there are moment connection, braced, and shear walls can be used, is there one that is better than the others for seismic design? Does it depend on the scenario, like a tall building should have braced where a small building can just a shear wall? Also what are important concepts to consider for wind loads on a building? I understand that pressure is higher t…

Here are some book references regarding seismic:

- _Architectural Graphic Standards_ (in Student Edition/11th edition: Seismic design, 7–10, 221, 222; Seismic forces, 8, 9, 119–120)
- _Building Construction Illustrated_ (in 4th edition: Earthquake loads, 2.10)
- _Simplified Engineering for Architects and Builders_ (not a specific NCARB-approved resource)

Here is an ARE Live episode about this topic: **[“Stiff vs. Soup”: A Structural Systems Mock Exam | Black Spectacles](https://www.blackspectacles.com/podcast/what-does-stiff-vs.-soup-mean-and-why-is-it-important-a-structural-systems)**

We also have a PPD Virtual Workshop about _Understanding Structural Systems and Seismic Impact on Design_. A recording of this most recent session can be found on your [**dashboard**](https://learn.blackspectacles.com/profile/dashboard) under ‘Virtual Workshops’ and the ‘Watch’ button next to ‘Replay the Latest Workshop.’ The recording will be available until this Sunday at midnight CST. The next live session for this topic will occur on Sunday, March 16th at 2:00-4:00pm CST.

Hope this helps! Happy studying 🙂

Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB  
**Black Spectacles**

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