Rational Use of Inelastic Response in Seismic Design

Abstract eng:
Inelastic analysis procedures effectively accounts for several sources of force reduction. They are therefore more dependable means for predicting inelastic demands compared with elastic analysis procedures. Encouragement to employ the former procedures is still limited and designers tend to favor elastic procedures. The significant reduction allowed in response parameters obtained from elastic analysis procedures unlike those from inelastic analysis results in high uncertainties and discourages the effective exploitation of the latter procedure in design. The present study proposes a simple and theoretically-based approach that utilizes inelastic seismic response to refine the initial structural design. To effectively describe the proposed design approach, correlation of seismic demands obtained from different analysis procedures carried out using a comprehensive set of reinforced concrete buildings of different characteristics is investigated. Verified analysis tools and rational input ground motions are employed in the elastic and inelastic simulations. The benefits obtained from assessing the preliminary design using pushover analysis to determine the need for additional inelastic simulations are discussed. The presented approach enables engineers to arrive at a realistic and cost-effective design without compromising safety.

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