ABSTRACT
The seismic analysis and design of buildings has traditionally focused on reducing the risk of the loss of life in the largest expected earthquake. Building codes base their provisions on the historic performance of buildings and their defi ciencies and have developed provisions around life-safety concerns by focusing their attention to prevent collapse under the most intense earthquake expected at a site during the life of a structure. These provisions are based on the concept that the successful performance of buildings in areas of high seismicity depends on a combination of strength; ductility manifested in the details of construction; and the presence of a fully interconnected, balanced, and complete lateral force-resisting system. In regions of low seismicity, the need for ductility reduces substantially. And in fact, strength may even substitute for a lack of ductility. Very brittle lateral force-resisting systems can be excellent performers as long as they are never pushed beyond their elastic strength.
