| Abstract: | The purpose of this research is to use data from experiments to formulate a mathematical model that will predict the non-linear response of a single-storey steel frame to an earthquake input. The process used in this formulation is system identification. In experiments performed on a shaking table, the frame was subjected to two earthquake motions at several intensities. In each case the frame underwent severe inelastic deformation. A computer program which incorporates the concepts of system identification makes use of the recorded data to establish four parameters in a non-linear mathematical model. When different amounts of data are used in the program, parameter sets are established which give the best model response for that amount of test data. The resulting sets of parameters reflect the way in which the properties of the structure change during the excitation. However, when the full durations of the different excitations are used, the sets of parameters are almost identical. For each of these sets of parameters, the correlation of the computed accelerations with the measured is excellent, and the shape of the computed displacement response compares very well with the measured response, although the permanent offset of the displacements is not computed exactly. Suggestions are given on how to overcome this deficiency in the mathematical model. |
