APPLYING VALUE ANALYSIS IN DESIGN OF ISOLATED STRUCTURES

In an optimal seismic design, structural performance should be in a balance with other variables which form the design space. In practice, such a balance can be achieved by using the value analysis in which costbenefit analysis methods are often applied to assess the value. To develop regulations by which the optimal performance is directly obtained by the value analysis, study structuralsystems from the cost-benefit point of view is essential. In the present research by employing the value analysis, the optimal performance of the isolation system for low-rise frame structures is studied. Firstly, a design framework is proposed in which the main design variables in cost-benefit analysis of structures are taken into account. Then, using this framework indifferent case studies, the optimal performance of the isolated structures is identified under different design situations. In each case, besides the isolated structures, the same structures with fixed bases are analysed. The results show how the optimal performance varies with respect to variation in occupancy type, design life period, and also economic environment. One of the main results shows that the use of the seismic isolation is not justifiable for structures with residential occupancy.