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Analysis and modelling of the seismic behaviour of high ... - Ingegneria

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7<br />

2 DUCTILITY AND SEISMIC RESPONSE OF STRUCTURES<br />

2.1 Introduction<br />

Engineers have recognized <strong>the</strong> need to take into account <strong>the</strong> plastic design in <strong>the</strong><br />

design <strong>of</strong> framed structures subjected to <strong>seismic</strong> actions. Regarding <strong>the</strong> <strong>seismic</strong><br />

design, <strong>the</strong> interest is focused on dissipation <strong>of</strong> input <strong>seismic</strong> energy. The basic<br />

design parameter in this approach is ductility, considered as <strong>the</strong> ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

structure to undergo serious plastic deformations without losing strength. In design<br />

practice it is generally accepted that steel is an excellent material for this purpose<br />

objectives due to performance in terms <strong>of</strong> ductility. But in <strong>the</strong> last decades<br />

specialists have recognized that <strong>the</strong> so-called good ductility <strong>of</strong> steel structures may<br />

be, in some particular conditions, only a dogma, which disagrees with reality. In<br />

fact, <strong>the</strong> recent earthquakes <strong>of</strong> Mexico City (1985), Loma Prieta (1989), Northridge<br />

(1994), <strong>and</strong> Kobe (1995) have seriously compromised this idyllic image <strong>of</strong> steel as<br />

a perfect material for <strong>seismic</strong> areas. In some cases <strong>the</strong> performance <strong>of</strong> steel joints<br />

<strong>and</strong> members was very bad <strong>and</strong> large damage was produced, showing that <strong>the</strong><br />

present design concepts are not sufficient in special conditions.<br />

Aiming at making up for this lack, modern codes for building in <strong>seismic</strong> areas allow<br />

to design <strong>high</strong>-ductility structures <strong>and</strong> to provide designers with some<br />

constructional rules considering whose fulfilment is suppose to assure a good<br />

ductility. But <strong>the</strong> above mentioned bad <strong>behaviour</strong> <strong>of</strong> steel structures has shown that<br />

this conception is not proper <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> verification <strong>of</strong> structure ductility must be<br />

quantified at <strong>the</strong> same level as <strong>the</strong> strength <strong>and</strong> stiffness.<br />

In fact, in <strong>the</strong> conventional practice for non-<strong>seismic</strong> loads, structures are designed<br />

only according to dem<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> strength <strong>and</strong> rigidity, which correspond to a good<br />

structural performance. The strength checking, including stability, is related to <strong>the</strong><br />

ultimate limit state, assuring that <strong>the</strong> force level developed in <strong>the</strong> structure remain

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