ABSTRACT
Displacement-based design approaches for single- and multi-degree of freedom structures are presented, discussing the possible advantages of using displacement and force as main design variable. Appropriate representations of the seismic action using acceleration and displacement response spectra are also discussed, with emphasis on the problems related to the common simplifications adopted in codes of practice. The typical response and displaced shapes of reinforced concrete frame building structures are then taken into consideration, discussing the relations between displacement, drift, ductility, strain and damage and giving suggestions for a rational evaluation of the viscous damping equivalent to the effective hysteretic energy dissipation.
