Simplified Estimation Method of Plastic Energy Dissipation for MDOF Systems Using Force Analogy Method

Abstract

Plastic energy dissipation is a key factor in the response of inelastic structures subjected to seismic input, and is often regarded as a primary source of structural damage due to the inelastic deformation of structural components. Accurately predicting a structure’s plastic energy dissipation is essential for efficient energy-based design and seismic assessment. While a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system provides a simple and effective method for estimating plastic energy dissipation, few studies have explored the use of nonlinear analysis methods or equivalent SDOF systems for this purpose. Based on the principle-of-force-analogy method, firstly, the formulas of plastic energy dissipation of a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) system and its equivalent SDOF system were established. Secondly, two estimation methods of plastic energy dissipation of MDOF systems were proposed. Finally, numerical simulations were performed on several multi-story and high-rise structures with varying heights and spans to compare the plastic energy dissipation of MDOF systems and the equivalent SDOF systems of different modes. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methods and formulas accurately estimate plastic energy dissipation in multi-story and high-rise structures, while also requiring fewer calculations and less storage.