Advanced inelastic static(pushover) analysis for earthquake applications

Whereas the potential of static inelastic analysis methods is recognised in earthquake design<br />and assessment, especially in contrast with elastic analysis under scaled forces, they have inherent<br />shortcomings. In this paper, critical issues in the application of inelastic static (pushover) analysis are<br />discussed and their effect on the obtained results appraised. Areas of possible developments that would<br />render the method more applicable to the prediction of dynamic response are explored. New developments<br />towards a fully adaptive pushover method accounting for spread of inelasticity, geometric nonlinearity, full<br />multi-modal, spectral amplification and period elongation, within a framework of fibre modelling of<br />materials, are discussed and preliminary results are given. These developments lead to static analysis<br />results that are closer than ever to inelastic time-history analysis. It is concluded that there is great scope<br />for improvements of this simple and powerful technique that would increase confidence in its employment<br />as the primary tool for seismic analysis in practice.