Performance based seismic design of steel moment-resisting frames using the energy approach

This dissertation presents the performance based seismic design using the energy approach. The energy characteristics of steel moment frames are investigated to perform performance based seismic design. Single-degree-of-freedom systems and twelve steel moment frames are used to investigate the energy characteristics of steel moment frames. The empirical energy formula and energy characteristics are proposed and used for performance based seismic design. The qualitative and quantitative definitions of performance levels are defined to carry out the performance based seismic engineering studies. Design earthquake levels are also defined to implement performance based design. The quantitative definition is made by the probability study of connection members. Three-story of steel moment frame is designed by the proposed performance based seismic design procedures. An example steel moment frame is evaluated under the target performance level thresholds of Functional Level and Life Safety Level. The seismic performances of five nonstructural components are also investigated at the performance level thresholds using previous earthquakes.