PERFORMANCE-BASED OPTIMUM DESIGN OF REINFORCED CONCRETE MOMENT FRAMES UNDER EARTHQUAKE LOADING

This paper presents an effective computer-based pushover analysis technique for the performance-based design of concrete frames to predict post-elastic seismic demands under equivalent static earthquake loading. Using an energy approach, the performance-based optimization of concrete moment resisting frames is evaluated for the so-called operational, immediate occupancy, life safety and collapse prevention performance levels. Three objective criteria are identified for the performance-based seismic design, which include the least structural weight, uniform ductility demands and also uniform earthquake energy for all the stories. The results obtained for three- and five-story concrete moment frames and compared with the dynamic behavior of these buildings.