Abstract
The displacement coefficient method proposed in FEMA 440 was evaluated using response statistics from a comprehensive set of nonlinear simulations of multi degree of freedom systems under both far-fault and near-fault ground motions. The study finds that it is practically difficult to achieve high relative strength factors (R values equal to or greater than 6.0) for very stiff systems thereby dictating the need to define R-dependent demand coefficients. The approximate expressions proposed in FEMA 440 for the C2 coefficient is shown to underestimate the displacement demand of stiffness-degrading short period systems. Additional nonlinear simulations were performed to investigate the combined effect of strength degradation and P-Delta effects on the displacement demands of MDOF systems. A new expression for the modification factor that reflect combined P-Delta and degrading effects for the estimation of displacement demands is proposed.
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