Seismic Sidesway Collapse Assessment Based on Simplified Models

This paper addresses the prediction of the global sidesway collapse capacity of earthquake excited P-Delta vulnerable moment-resisting frame structures subjected to cyclic component deterioration. In a parameter study the contribution of P-Delta and component deterioration on the total collapse capacity is assessed, in an effort to reveal parameter domains where one of these effects dominates seismic collapse. The second focus is on simplified collapse capacity prediction, based on an equivalent single-degree-of-freedom model that captures both material deterioration and the degrading effect of gravity loads. The “exact” collapse capacity and its approximation is set in contrast to reveal the range of applicability of simplified collapse assessment. The median collapse capacity is computed using incremental dynamic analysis.