ABSTRACT
The design of steel seismic resistant structures took a dramatic turn after the last Californian and Japanese events. The heavy damage observed as a results of these earthquakes was never before recorded in the history of building design. These events gave rise to a general effort all over the world to improve the seismic resistance of steel structures. A comprehensive program started to evaluate both the design specifications and detail rules. In this perspective, clear attention has been paid to the evaluation of local ductility erosion at the level of sections.
