Inelastic response and design criteria of plan-wise asymmetric systems

The study of the torsional response of buildings in the inelastic range of behaviour is of great interest since the ability of structures to resist strong earthquakes mainly relies on their ductility and capacity for energy dissipation. Furthermore, an examination of the performance of structures during past earthquakes demonstrates that plan-asymmetric buildings suffered greater damage due to torsional response. The paper deals with this subject by analysing a model which idealizes a one-storey building with resisting elements oriented along two perpendicular directions. In addition to the parameters of the elastic behaviour, the inelastic system response depends on full yield capacity and plan-wise strength distribution. The influence of the criterion adopted for the design of resisting elements on local ductility demand and damage has been evaluated by parametric analysis. In particular, a comparison has been carried out between systems with equal design levels for all elements and systems with design levels dependent on the element location. For a given elastic behaviour and total capacity, the strength distributions in plan have been defined which minimize ductility demand and structural damage. Finally, based on these findings, responses from models designed according to several seismic codes have been compared.     

Statistical analysis of the inelastic response of shear structures subjected to earthquakes

Inelastic deformations of structures subjected to strong earthquakes are commonly accepted by Aseismic Codes; some discrepancies exist in the different procedures proposed to design a structure for which the ductility demand is to be limited within acceptable values. To have a better insight into the seismic behaviour of multi-degree-of-freedom structures beyond the elastic range, the dynamic elasto-plastic response of a ten-storey shear system under two sets of artificial and recorded accelerograms is studied considering different stiffness-strength distributions and constitutive laws. Statistics of the results are presented, demonstrating the dependence of the overall and storey ductility values and of their ratio on the characteristics of the structure and excitation.     

Assessment of the seismic non-linear behavior of ductile wall structures due to synthetic earthquakes

In this paper, different methods for generating synthetic earthquakes are compared in terms of related non-linear seismic response of ductile structures. The objective of the investigation is to formulate recommendations for the use of synthetic earthquakes for reliable seismic analysis. The comparison is focused on the accuracy of the reproduction of the characteristics of the structural non-linear response due to recorded earthquakes. First the investigations are carried out for non-linear single-degree-of-freedom systems. Later, the results are validated for a set of realistic buildings modelled as multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Various options of the classical stationary simulation procedure of SIMQKE and a non-stationary simulation procedure proposed by Sabetta and Pugliese are examined and compared. The adopted methodology uses a set of recorded earthquakes as a reference. Hundred synthetic accelerograms are generated for each examined simulation option with the condition that the related elastic responses are similar to those of the reference set. The non-linear single-degree-of-freedom systems are defined using six recognized hysteretic models and four levels of increasing non-linearity. The non-linear responses computed for the reference set and the studied simulation options are then statistically compared in terms of displacement ductility and energy. The results show that the implementation of the classical stationary procedure always leads to a significant underestimation of the ductility demand and a significant overestimation of the energy demand. By contrast, non-stationary time histories produce much better results. The results with the multi-degree-of-freedom systems are shown to confirm these conclusions.     

Investigation on the accuracy of the N2 method and the equivalent linearization procedure for different hysteretic models

In this paper, an extensive parametric study was carried out to evaluate the dynamic response of single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems with elasto-plastic and flag-shape hysteretic behaviour for three different dissipation capacities. Three sets of natural accelerograms were used, each one composed by at least 7 records which are on average spectrum-consistent in pseudo-acceleration, spectral displacement or both of them. All sets were also employed to draw the inelastic spectra for different ductility values. Such rigorous spectra were then compared with the approximated curves calculated using the N2 method and the Equivalent Linearization Procedure (ELP) based on the use of overdamped elastic spectra.The analyses demonstrate a general accuracy of the N2 method, which is mostly based on the ductility of the system, even for the hysteretic behaviour characterised by reduced energy dissipation. Larger discrepancies were found for systems with lower damping ratios and reduced fundamental periods. The ELP, which mainly depends upon the dissipated energy, led instead to overall slightly larger discrepancies than the N2 method, particularly for not dissipative and ductile systems, whereas the approximation is generally acceptable for elasto-plastic systems.     

Ground motion modelling in Tehran based on the stochastic method

This paper presents the development of a seismological model for the Tehran area. This modelling approach, which was originally developed in Eastern North America, has been used successfully in other parts of the world including Australia and China for simulating accelerograms and elastic response spectra. Parameters required for input into the model were inferred from seismological and geological information obtained locally. The attenuation properties of the earth crust were derived from the analysis of accelerogram records that had been collated from within the region in a previous study. In modelling local modifications of seismic waves in the upper crust, shear-wave velocity profiles have been constructed in accordance with the power law. Information inferred from micro-zonation studies (for near-surface conditions) and from measurements of teleseismic P-waves reflected from the deeper crusts as reported in the literature has been used to constrain parameters in the power-law relationships. This method of obtaining amplification factors for the upper crust distinguishes this study from earlier studies in the Tehran area (in which site amplification factors were inferred from the H/V ratio of the recorded ground motions). The regional specific seismological model so constructed from the study enabled accelerograms to be simulated and elastic response spectra calculated for a series of magnitude–distance combinations. Importantly, elastic response spectra calculated from the simulated accelerograms have been compared with those calculated from accelerograms recorded from earthquakes with magnitudes ranging between M6.3 and M7.4. The peak ground velocity values calculated from the simulated accelerograms have also been correlated with values inferred from macro-seismic intensity data of 17 historical earthquakes with magnitudes varying between 5.4 and 7.7 and with distances varying between 40 and 230 km. This paper forms part of the long-term strategy of the authors of applying modern techniques for modelling the attenuation behaviour of earthquakes in countries which are lacking in instrumental data of earthquakes.     

近场地震动特性及其弹性与塑性谱的研究

结构在近场地震动作用下的反应和远场地震动作用下的明显不同,这主要是由近场地震动高能量的速度脉冲等特征决定的。通过对110条近场地震动记录的分析．得到了相应的弹性反应谱,并通过对近场地震动和远场地震动作用下结构塑性分析进行对比．得到了以下结论：近场地震动作用下结构的弹性反应谱与规范谱明显不同,尤其在长周期阶段,表明规范谱值偏小;近场地震动作用对结构提出了更高的强度和变形需求。     

Statistical insight into constant-ductility design using a non-stationary earthquake ground motion model

A recently developed earthquake ground motion model non-stationary in both intensity and frequency content is validated at the inelastic Single-Degree-Of-Freedom (SDOF) structural response level. For the purpose of this study, the earthquake model is calibrated for two actual earthquake records. The objective of a constant (or target) displacement ductility used in conventional earthquake-resistant design is examined from the statistical viewpoint using this non-stationary earthquake model. The non-linear hysteretic structural behaviour is modelled using several idealized hysteretic SDOF structural models. Ensemble-average inelastic response spectra corresponding to various inelastic SDOF response (or damage) parameters and conditioned on a constant displacement ductility response are derived from the two identified stochastic ground motion models. The effects of the type of hysteretic behaviour, the structural parameters, the target displacement ductility factor, and the ground motion model on the statistics of the inelastic response parameters are thoroughly investigated. The results of this parametric study shed further light on the proper interpretation and use of inelastic response or damage parameters in earthquake-resistant design in order to achieve the desirable objective of ‘constant-damage design’. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of displacement demand for elastic and inelastic SDOF systems

The results of a research concerning the characterization of elastic and inelastic displacement spectral demand as a function of magnitude, source-to-site distance, and soil type are presented. The displacement spectra were computed for single degree of freedom systems subjected to a large set of strong ground motion records.In the elastic case, design displacement spectra, modeled in a simplified way with a bilinear shape in the period range 0–4 s, are then proposed for the estimation of the displacement demand to structures located on different local soil condition, at different distance from the causative fault, and for different levels of magnitude. In order to evaluate the reliability of the proposed design displacement spectra, probabilistic displacement spectra corresponding to different levels of probability of non-exceedance were also carried out.The inelastic displacement demand to elasto-plastic systems was analyzed through the ratio between inelastic and elastic spectral displacements. Simplified relationships of the inelastic displacement ratio are then proposed as a function of displacement ductility, soil condition and period of vibration. Finally, as a comparison, the inelastic displacement ratios were also estimated considering other constitutive models.     

Inelastic seismic response of simple eccentric structures

The maximum ductility demand and the edge displacement of a simple single mass eccentric model is evaluated when the system is subjected to ground motions represented by the El Centro 1940 and Taft 1952 earthquake records. The resisting elements are taken to be bilinear hysteretic. It is found that the ductility demand depends to a great extent on the energy content of the ground motions, particularly in the period range beyond the elastic period of the system. Unlike elastic response, the coincidence of uncoupled torsional and lateral frequencies does not lead to exceptionally high inelastic response. An increase by a factor of two in ductility demand is not uncommon for a system with large eccentricity as compared to a symmetrical system. Therefore, system eccentricity has a larger effect on ductility demand than earlier studies indicated. Using Clough's model to allow for stiffness degradation effect, results are found to be within 20 per cent of those calculated based on the bilinear hysteretic model.     

UNCOUPLED FREQUENCY RATIO IN ASYMMETRIC BUILDINGS

Structural eccentricity and Uncoupled Frequency Ratio (UFR) are two system parameters that strongly influence the elastic response of eccentric structures. The opinions differ regarding their influence on the inelastic response. Different investigators arrived at contradictory conclusions on the influence of uncoupled frequency ratio. The reasons for these contradictions are the use of different definitions and different models in the inelastic studies. In this paper, three possible definitions of the uncoupled frequency ratio are identified, and their influence is studied on the inelastic response. An ensemble of 10 real earthquakes of 20 s duration is used. The response is measured in terms of the mean plus one standard deviation of the ductility ratio. The value of the UFR obtained by each of the three possible definitions is not always admissible. It is concluded that the inelastic response depends upon the eccentric system, definition employed for the UFR, time period of the eccentric systems and the basis of strength distribution among the various lateral elements.     

Investigation of story ductility demands of inelastic concrete frames subjected to repeated earthquakes

The present study focuses on the influence of repeated earthquakes on the maximum story ductility demands of three-dimensional inelastic concrete frames. A comprehensive assessment is conducted using generic frames with 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-story structures. Each is assumed to have behaviour factors of 1.5, 2, 4, and 6 referring to Eurocode 8. Stiffness and strength degrading hysteresis rule to represent reinforced concrete structure is considered in the plastic hinge of members. Twenty ground motions are selected, and single, double, and triple events of synthetic repeated earthquakes are considered. Some interesting findings are provided showing that repeated earthquakes significantly increase the story ductility demand of inelastic concrete frames. On average, relative increment of maximum story ductility demand is experienced 1.4 and 1.3 times when double and triple events of repeated earthquakes are induced, respectively. Empirical relationships are also provided to predict these increments where their efficiency is presented examining characteristic 3- and 8-story reinforced concrete buildings.     

Evaluation of simulated ground motions for predicting elastic response of long period structures and inelastic response of structures

The response of linear elastic and non-linear hysteretic systems having a single degree of freedom to recorded and simulated ground motions is studied. The objective is to evaluate whether the commonly used simulated motions are appropriate for predicting inelastic response of structures and elastic response of long period structures. Eight simulated motions were generated to model properties of horizontal ground motions recorded during four earthquakes. The simulated motions are sample functions of a stationary, Gaussian white noise process, multiplied by a temporal intensity function and passed through a linear single-degree-of-freedom filter. Two versions, corresponding to parabolic and ‘standard’ base line corrections (BLC), of each of the simulated and recorded accelerograms were considered. The following general conclusions are deduced. Simulated ground motions should be subjected to the standard BLC, because it results in more reliable ground velocities and displacements, which in turn would lead to more reliable predictions of response of long period structures. Furthermore, the spectral density of the underlying random process, from which the simulated motions are obtained, should be modified to be more representative of the frequency content of recorded motions, especially in the low frequency range. Such an improved model can be expected to lead to better agreement, over a broad range of periods, in the average response spectra of simulated and recorded motions, for elastic as well as inelastic systems.     

An energy-based methodology for the assessment of seismic demand

A methodology for the assessment of the seismic energy demands imposed on structures is proposed. The research was carried out through two consecutive phases. Inelastic design input energy spectra for systems with a prescribed displacement ductility ratio were first developed. The study of the inelastic behavior of energy factors and the evaluation of the response modification in comparison with the elastic case were performed by introducing two new parameters, namely: (1) the Response Modification Factor of the earthquake input energy (R_E), representing the ratio of the elastic to inelastic input energy spectral values and (2) the ratio α of the area enclosed by the inelastic input energy spectrum in the range of periods between 0.05 and 4.0 s to the corresponding elastic value. The proposed design inelastic energy spectra, resulting from the study of a large set of strong motion records, were obtained as a function of ductility, soil type, source-to-site distance and magnitude.Subsequently, with reference to single degree of freedom systems, the spectra of the hysteretic to input energy ratio were evaluated, for different soil types and target ductility ratios. These spectra, defined to evaluate the hysteretic energy demand of structures, were described by a piecewise linear idealization that allows to distinguish three distinct regions as a function of the vibration period. In this manner, once the inelastic design input energy spectra were determined, the definition of the energy dissipated by means of inelastic deformations followed directly from the knowledge of hysteretic to input energy ratio.The design spectra of both input energy and hysteretic to input energy ratio were defined considering an elasto-plastic behavior. Nevertheless, other constitutive models were taken into account for comparison purposes.     

脉冲型近断层地震动作用单自由度体系响应分析

近断层前方向性效应地震动含有高幅值,短持时的速度脉冲,与远场地震动相比存在显著差异。本文根据所选取的40条近断层地震波记录,用小波分析方法将原始记录分解为脉冲波部分和高频波部分,对弹性和非弹性单自由度体系进行分析,得出了以下结论:对于弹性体系,大约0.484倍的速度脉冲周期可以作为临界周期,脉冲波部分将对固有周期大于临界周期的结构的响应起主导作用,反之,高频波部分将会产生显著影响;对于非弹性体系,仅仅用等效速度脉冲方法模拟近断层地震动的计算精度将会受到延性系数?的影响,随着延性系数的增加,脉冲波部分满足精度要求的结构固有周期范围将明显缩小,并且向较低周期范围偏移;仅用等效速度脉冲模型来模拟近断层地震动具有一定的局限性。     

Seismic reliability‐based ductility demand evaluation for inelastic base‐isolated structures with friction pendulum devices

The aim of this work is to propose seismic reliability‐based relationships between the strength reduction factors and the displacement ductility demand of nonlinear structural systems equipped with friction pendulum isolators (FPS) depending on the structural properties. The isolated structures are described by employing an equivalent 2dof model characterized by a perfectly elastoplastic rule to account for the inelastic response of the superstructure, whereas, the FPS behavior is described by a velocity‐dependent model. An extensive parametric study is carried out encompassing a wide range of elastic and inelastic building properties, different seismic intensity levels and considering the friction coefficient as a random variable. Defined a set of natural seismic records and scaled to the seismic intensity corresponding to life safety limit state for L'Aquila site (Italy) according to NTC08, the inelastic characteristics of the superstructures are designed as the ratio between the average elastic responses and increasing strength reduction factors. Incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) are developed to evaluate the seismic fragility curves of both the inelastic superstructure and the isolation level assuming different values of the corresponding limit states. Integrating the fragility curves with the seismic hazard curves related to L'Aquila site (Italy), the reliability curves of the equivalent inelastic base‐isolated structural systems, with a design life of 50 years, are derived proposing seismic reliability‐based regression expressions between the displacement ductility demand and the strength reduction factors for the superstructure as well as seismic reliability‐based design (SRBD) abacuses useful to define the FPS properties. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of intensity of motion on the seismic response of structures with asymmetric force-deformation curves

Asymmetrically yielding single-degree-of-freedom elastoplastic systems are subjected to simulated accelerograms based on El Centro-NS, 1940 ground motion (wide frequency band) to calculate the corresponding ductility demands. Results are compared with those corresponding to simulated accelerograms of the SCT-EW, 1985 Mexico earthquake (narrow frequency band) obtained in a previous work. Results obtained reveal that the characteristics of the excitation influence the response of asymmetrically yielding structures and that the differences found on responses corresponding to both earthquakes are due to frequency content, duration and/or intensity of motion. The effect of the latter concepts is studied using modulating sinusoidal excitations as well as accelerograms recorded on soft and hard soils of Mexico City. Two alternate expressions are proposed to evaluate the increase in ductility demands of structures with asymmetric force-displacement curves with respect to symmetric ones. Those expressions take into account motion intensity and duration, as well as seismic design coefficient.     

Inelastic torsional response of buildings to the 1985 Mexican earthquake: a parametric study

This study aims to determine the influence of torsional coupling on the inelastic response of a series of models representing typical structural configurations in real buildings. The lake bed (SCT) east-west component of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake was employed in the analysis, and is representative of a severe ground motion known to have induced large inelastic structural deformations in a high proportion of those buildings having asymmetrical distributions of stiffness and/or strength. Material non-linearity in lateral load-resisting elements has been defined using a hysteretic Ramberg-Osgood model. Structural eccentricities have been introduced into the building models by (i) asymmetrical distributions of stiffness and/or strength, (ii) asymmetrical configuration of lateral load-resisting elements, or (iii) varying post-elastic material behaviour in the resisting elements. The dynamic inelastic response of these models has been obtained by a numerical integration of the relevant equations of motion, expressed in a non-dimensional incremental form.

In the elastic range, the results correlate well with those of previous studies. In the inelastic range, it is concluded that the peak ductility demand of the worst-affected element increases with the ground excitation level across the range of building periods considered, and that the influence of torsional coupling on the key response parameters is model dependent. Most significantly, the strength eccentricity relative to the centre of mass has been shown to influence the peak edge displacement response more than conventionally employed stiffness eccentricity.     

Influence of deterioration modelling on the seismic response of steel moment frames designed to Eurocode 8

This paper assesses the influence of cyclic and in‐cycle degradation on seismic drift demands in moment‐resisting steel frames (MRF) designed to Eurocode 8. The structural characteristics, ground motion frequency content, and level of inelasticity are the primary parameters considered. A set of single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) systems, subjected to varying levels of inelastic demands, is initially investigated followed by an extensive study on multi‐storey frames. The latter comprises a large number of incremental dynamic analyses (IDA) on 12 frames modelled with or without consideration of degradation effects. A suite of 56 far‐field ground motion records, appropriately scaled to simulate 4 levels of inelastic demand, is employed for the IDA. Characteristic results from a detailed parametric investigation show that maximum response in terms of global and inter‐storey drifts is notably affected by degradation phenomena, in addition to the earthquake frequency content and the scaled inelastic demands. Consistently, both SDOF and frame systems with fundamental periods shorter than the mean period of ground motion can experience higher lateral strength demands and seismic drifts than those of non‐degrading counterparts in the same period range. Also, degrading multi‐storey frames can exhibit distinctly different plastic mechanisms with concentration of drifts at lower levels. Importantly, degrading systems might reach a “near‐collapse” limit state at ductility demand levels comparable to or lower than the assumed design behaviour factor, a result with direct consequences on optimised design situations where over‐strength would be minimal. Finally, the implications of the findings with respect to design‐level limit states are discussed.     

Numbers of scaled and matched accelerograms required for inelastic dynamic analyses

Selecting, scaling and matching accelerograms are critically important to engineering design and assessment, enabling structural response to be determined with greater confidence and through fewer analyses than if unscaled accelerograms are employed. This paper considers the response of an 8‐storey multiple‐degree‐of‐freedom reinforced concrete structure to accelerograms selected, linearly scaled or spectrally matched using five different techniques. The first method consists of selecting real records on the basis of seismological characteristics, while the remaining methods make an initial selection on the basis of magnitude and spectral shape before (1) scaling to the target spectral acceleration at the initial period; (2) scaling to the target spectrum over a range of periods; (3) using wavelet adjustments to match the target spectrum and (4) using wavelet adjustments to match multiple target spectra for multiple damping ratios. The analyses indicate that the number of records required to obtain a stable estimate of the response decreases drastically as one moves through these methods. The exact number varies among damage measures and is related to the predictability of the damage measure. For measures such as peak roof and inter‐storey drift, member end rotation and the Park and Ang damage index, as few as one or two records are required to estimate the response to within ±5% (for a 64% confidence level) if matching to multiple damping ratios is conducted. Bias checks are made using predictive equations of the expected response derived from the results of 1656 nonlinear time‐domain analyses of the structure under the action of unscaled accelerograms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deterministic Approach for the Seismic Microzonation of Bucharest

— The mapping of the seismic ground motion in Bucharest, due to the strong Vrancea earthquakes is carried out using a complex hybrid waveform modeling method which combines the modal summation technique, valid for laterally homogeneous anelastic media, with finite-differences technique, and optimizes the advantages of both methods. For recent earthquakes, it is possible to validate the modeling by comparing the synthetic seismograms with the records. We consider for our computations the frequency range from 0.05 to 1.0 Hz and control the synthetic signals against the accelerograms of the Magurele station, low-pass filtered with a cut-off frequency of 1.0 Hz of the 3 last major strong (M_w > 6) Vrancea earthquakes. Using the hybrid method with a double-couple seismic source approximation, scaled for the source dimensions and relatively simple regional (bedrock) and local structure models, we succeeded in reproducing the recorded ground motion in Bucharest at a satisfactory level for seismic engineering. Extending the modeling to the entire territory of the Bucharest area, we construct a new seismic microzonation map, where five different zones are identified by their characteristic response spectra.