Seismic response of non-structural components in multi-storey steel frames

This paper investigates the elastic and inelastic seismic response of non-structural components in multi-storey steel moment framed structures and derives predictive relationships for their displacements and spectral accelerations. Within 38 primary structural steel frames, non-structural components characterised by various periods and strength reduction factors, are modelled as single-degree-of-freedom systems which are fixed to individual floors. The primary structures are three, five, and seven-storey steel moment-resisting frames, designed according to the provisions of Eurocode 8. Detailed nonlinear time history analyses are conducted, employing a large set of 100 ground motion records from both far-field and near-field sources. These records are scaled to two distinct levels to simulate the response of primary structures in both elastic and inelastic states. The influence of the ground motion type and the inelasticity level in the non-structural components is examined in detail. The sensitivity to strain hardening and viscous damping considerations is also assessed and discussed. Based on the results, representative relationships for predicting the inelastic displacement ratios are proposed. In addition, various provisions stipulated in European design guidance for determining the spectral accelerations are critically evaluated and improvements are suggested with due consideration for the inelasticity of both the non-structural components and the primary structures.