A More Rational Approach to Capacity Design of Seismic Moment Frame Columns

Abstract

Inelastic time history analyses typically indicate that the traditional sub-assembly “capacity” approach used in the design of ductile moment frames grossly underestimates the maximum moments experienced by the columns during a maximum credible earthquake. In addition, these analyses predict that the maximum column demand moments often occur near the mid-height of concrete structures, whereas a conventional elastic analysis predicts maxima at the lowest levels of these structures. Incremental displacement analyses using modal properties and displacements predicted by a maximum credible response spectrum should be used to more accurately predict the maximum anticipated column demand moments in the analysis of existing structures or the design of new structures.