ABSTRACT
A procedure is proposed for displacement-based seismic design of RC buildings, as part of the overall structural design, which includes also ULS design for gravity loads and limitation of damage under a “Serviceability” earthquake. Member inelastic deformation demands under the design “Life-Safety” seismic action are estimated from the 5%-damped elastic spectrum and the period of the elastic structure with the secant stiffness of its members at yielding. Member detailing is performed on the basis of these deformation demands and of empirical expressions developed for the member deformation capacity. An application is presented for the 4-story ELSA test structure.
