The response of nonlinear multi-story structures subjected to earthquake excitation

Abstract

The dynamic responses of a 20-story nonlinear structural frame representative of a modern high rise building are analyzed with the aid of a digital computer. Related analytical studies of continuous systems are carried out. Quantitative information is provided on the importance of a wide range of modes to the various responses of a multi-story structure during an earthquake. The effect of yielding on the response is observed. The magnitude of the structural responses are compared with common measurements of earthquake strength. At the ends of each girder and column of the structural frame are yield hinges which have bilinear bending moment- rotation hysteretic characteristics. Two beam models having such characteristics are studied; one of these models can treat curvilinear hysteretic behavior. Three definitions of ductility factor are discussed, one of which is applicable to both bilinear and curvilinear hysteresis loops. In the computer program, the frame is subjected to the time history of an earthquake accelerogram, the equations of motion are stepwise integrated, and the various structural responses - displacement, bending moments, incurred yielding, etc. - are determined. The agreement between the response parameters resulting from excitation by seven different earthquake ground motions indicates that these response characteristics are determined more by the properties of the structure than by the earthquake. These results throw some light on extreme value statistics of the response of yielding structures subjected to earthquakes. The characteristic patterns observed in the computed responses of the nonlinear structure can be related to analytical studies of linear elastic, shear-type, uniform and tapered continuous cantilever beams.

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