Simplified methods for the evaluation of seismic performances of steel CBFs

Seismic events in recent years have highlighted the need for a prompt classification of the built heritage in terms of seismic vulnerability. The capacity of a structure can be assessed through inelastic analysis, requiring onerous numerical procedures. Consequently, a simplified method for the evaluation of the seismic performance of steel Concentrically Braced Frames (CBFs) not resorting to any static or dynamic non-linear analysis can be useful in everyday practice. The proposed methodology has been set up by an extensive parametric analysis, carried out on 420 Concentrically Braced Frames designed according to 3 different approaches: the Theory of Plastic Mechanism Control (TPMC) is the first one and ensures the design of structures showing global collapse mechanism (GCBFs), the second is based on the Eurocode 8 requirements (SCBFs) while the third is a design for horizontal loads not resorting to rules aimed at the mechanism control (OCBFs). © 2023 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.