Abstract
This paper presents the process of modeling a structure using the finite element method. There are two approaches through which the seismic behavior of structures can be modeled. Generally, the analysis of seismic behavior assumes the structures have a fixed base. The second method to model and analyze the seismic behavior of structures involves considering the soil-structure interaction by modeling the soil underneath the building. This paper also presents a comparison of the results of two finite element simulations, one of them considering the structure has a fixed base and the other having a flexible base. The results have shown that the fixed base model leads to higher frequencies and uneven distribution of stresses compared with the results of the flexible base model.