Seismic motion damage potential for R/C wall-stiffened buildings................................. K. Meskouris, W B . Kratzig, U. Hanskdtter

Seismic damage in buildings is heavily dependent on the number of load reversals experienced, which correlates mainly with strong motion duration. While for sites with low seismic damage potential linear models are sufficiently accurate for design purposes, nonlinear models are essential if a large number of load reversals is to be expected. A classification of probable ground motions at a site according to their damage potential is proposed and some accompanying problems are discussed in con­ nection with nonlinear analyses of large wall-stiffened R/C buildings.