ABSTRACT
Steel structures have always been considered as a suitable solution for constructions in high seismicity areas, due to the very good strength and ductility exhibited by the structural material, the high quality assurance guaranteed by the industrial production of steel shapes and plates, and the reliability of connections built up both in the workshop and in the field (Mazzolani and Piluso, 1996; Mazzolani and Gioncu, 2000). To exemplify this good behavior, in many papers, the excellent performance, during the 1957 earthquake, of the Torre Latino Americana building in Mexico City (Figure 2.1a) was mentioned as an example, in contrast with the reinforced concrete buildings, which frequently underwent many collapses. Based on these considerations, for a long time, no provisions for steel structures were included in the codes, considering that no problems occurred in seismic area.
