IMPLICATIONS OF DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES FOR SEISMIC RESPONSE OF STEEL MOMENT FRAMES

During a severe earthquake, steel moment resisting frames are expected to experience significant inelastic deformation in their members and joints. This behaviour is dependent upon several design parameters suc h as member sizes, frame's overstrength, member deformation capacities and the detailing of components. In this study, the influence of such aspects on the inelastic response of frames is investigated. Inelasti c static and dynamic analyses were performed on four frames of differe nt designs for a typical six-storey building The frames were designed and detailed in accordance with current North American code requiremen ts. The computed response of each frame was compared with the behaviou r expected by the codes. Recommendations for a design procedure are su ggested for improving the structural performance of low-rise steel fra mes subjected to strong earthquake excitation.