Assessment of European seismic design procedures for steel framed structures

This paper assesses the fundamental approaches and main procedures adopted in the seismic design of steel frames, with emphasis on the provisions of Eurocode 8. The study covers moment-resisting as well as concentrically-braced frame configurations. Code requirements in terms of design concepts, behaviour factors, ductility considerations and capacity design verifications, are examined. The rationality and clarity of the design principles employed in Eurocode 8, especially those related to the explicit definitions of dissipative and non dissipative zones and associated capacity design criteria, are highlighted. Various requirements that differ notably from the provisions of other seismic codes are also pointed out. More importantly, several issues that can lead to unintentional departure from performance objectives or to impractical solutions, as a consequence of inherent assumptions or possible misinterpretations, are identified and a number of clarifications and modifications suggested. In particular, it is shown that the implications of stability and drift requirements as well as some capacity design checks in moment frames, together with the treatment of post-buckling response and the distribution of inelastic demand in braced frames, are areas that merit careful consideration within the design process.