Damage and stability assessment techniques are developed for evaluating the
seismic performance of composite steel-concrete moment frames. The approac
h features a new seismic damage index based on cumulative member ductility
that employs the concept of primary and follower load cycles to distinguish
loading history effects. Equations are presented to determine the limiting
rotation capacity for RC columns, steel and composite beams, and composite
steel-concrete connection subassemblages, and the resulting damage model i
s validated by comparisons with published test data. The damage index is in
corporated in a methodology that combines nonlinear time history and gravit
y load stability analyses to evaluate collapse prevention performance as a
function of earthquake ground motion intensity. In contrast to existing sei
smic assessment procedures, the proposed methodology integrates the destabi
lizing effects of local damage indices to evaluate overall system response.
The assessment technique is illustrated through a trial design study of a
six-story frame conducted under Phase 5 of the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Resea
rch Program on composite and hybrid structures.