Story Drift

Plain Definition: The lateral displacement difference between two floors in a building.

Technical Description: Expressed as a ratio or percentage of story height. Excessive drift can lead to nonstructural damage or collapse.

Use in Design: Controlled by codes to limit damage and ensure serviceability.

Meta Title: Story Drift Control in Seismic Design | Structural Glossary

Meta Description: Learn what story drift is and how engineers limit it in earthquake-resistant buildings.