ABSTRACT
An accurate design of structure subjected to seismic loads has to consider the verification of the stiffness, resistance and ductility triad. Unfortunately, in the present codes only the direct checking for stiffness and resistance is required, the ductility demands being ensured just by detailing rules. During the last great earthquakes this provision has been proved to be inadequate, the damage of steel structures being very important. Thus, a consistent methodology for direct ductility checking is required by design practice. This paper presents a proposal for such methodology, which considers the interaction between local and global ductility.
