Inelastic displacement-based design approach of R/C building structures in seismic regions

A two-level displacement-based design procedure is developed. To obtain the displacement<br />demands, elastic spectra for occasional earthquakes and inelastic spectra for rare earthquakes are used.<br />Minimum global stiffness and strength to be supplied to the structure are based on specified maximum<br />permissible drift limits and on the condition that the structure responds within the elastic range for<br />occasional earthquakes. The performance of the structure may be assessed by an inelastic push-over<br />analysis to the required displacement and the evaluation of damage indices. The approach is applied to the<br />design of a five-story reinforced concrete coupled wall structure located in the most hazardous seismic<br />region of Argentina. The inelastic dynamic response of the structure subjected to real and artificially<br />generated acceleration time histories is also analyzed. Finally, advantages and limitations of the proposed<br />procedure from the conceptual point of view and practical application are discussed.