Concepts of Seismic Resistant Design

Structural Configuration 1

Concept of Competent Load Path

Plan Elevation
Structural Configuration 2

Which System is Better?

System A

System B

Overall Strength of System A = System B Systems Have Same Overall Deformation Capacity
Structural Configuration 3

Which System is Better?

+ +

+ +

System A

System B

What is the effect of a premature loss of one element?

Structural Configuration 4

Increase Local Redundancy by Designing Hinge Sequence Hinge Sequence

Force

Deformation

Structural Configuration 5

Versus Simultaneous Hinging

Hinge Sequence

Force

Deformation
Structural Configuration 6

Distributed vs Simultaneous Hinging Force

Distributed Simultaneous

Deformation Simultaneous: Less apparent overstrength Less post-yield stability

Structural Configuration 7

Avoid Undesirable Mechanisms

Force

Deformation

Structural Configuration 8

Structural Configuration 9

Structural Configuration 10

Avoid Accidental Mechanisms

Vdesign = 2Mp/L
L L

Vactual = 2Mp/L

Masonry Wall
Structural Configuration 11

Avoid Accidental Mechanisms

Structural Configuration 12

Avoid Accidental Mechanisms

Structural Configuration 13

Avoid Situations Where the Loss of One Element is Catastrophic

Structural Configuration 14

Avoid Re-entrant Corners (Or Reinforce Accordingly)

Structurally: Improved

Architecturally Dubious

Structural Configuration 15

Structural Configuration 16

Protect Nonstructural Elements

Structural Configuration 17