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

6.1 Summary
6 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS
AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Mainly focusing the attention in new solutions assuring the necessary ductility, that
can be obtained not only through careful study of building morphology, structural
schemes and construction details, but also through a rational use of materials, this
work constitutes an endeavour toward detailed analyses, design and tests of
beam-to-column joints. The analysis started from the theoretical investigation of the
so-called Performance-Based Seismic Engineering approach, that is defined as
“identification of seismic hazards, selection of the performance levels and
performance design objectives, determination of site suitability, conceptual design,
numerical preliminary design, final design, acceptability checks during design,
design review, specification of quality assurance during the construction and of
monitoring of the maintenance and occupancy (function) during the life of the
building." (Bertero and Bertero, 2002). Therefore, a comprehensive performance
based design involves several steps:
• selection of the performance objectives;
• definition of multi-level design criteria;
• specification of ground motion levels, corresponding to the different design
criteria;
• consideration of a conceptual overall seismic design;
• options for a suitable structural analysis method;
• carrying out comprehensive numerical checking.
On this basis an extensive study has been carried out on three main topics that are
briefly summarized hereafter.
1. Seismic behaviour of bolted end plate beam-to-column steel joints: this
research programme had a two-fold purpose: (i) to analyse the seismic