Application of Endurance Time Method in Performance-Based Design of Steel Moment Frames

Abstract

In this paper, application of the Endurance Time (ET) method in the performance-based design of steel moment frames is explained from a conceptual viewpoint. ET is a new dynamic pushover procedure that predicts the seismic performance of structures by subjecting them to a gradually intensifying dynamic action and monitoring their performance at various excitation levels. Structural responses at di erent excitation levels are obtained in a single time-history analysis, thus signi cantly reducing the computational demand. Results from three analyses are averaged to reduce the random scattering of the results at each time step. A target performance curve is presented based on the required performance criteria, as a continuous function of an increasing intensity measure. The actual performance is then plotted against this target performance based on the results of ET analysis. The overall performance of the structure can be anticipated by comparing the target to actual performance at various intensity levels and the design can be improved based on the observed performance. Results are indicative of a good potential for application of the ET method in the performance-based design of steel moment frames.