The influence of design ductility capacity on the seismic performance of medium height reinforced concrete frame buildings

This paper describes an investigation into the seismic performance of a six storey moment resisting frame structure located in Vancouver and designed and detailed in accordance with the seismic provisions of the National Building Code of Canada (1995). Both pushover and dynamic analyses are conducted using an inelastic model of the structure as designed and detailed. The structural performance of frames designed with different ductility capacities is evaluated using interstorey drift and member curvature ductility response as performance measures. All frames studied are expected to perform at an operational level when subjected to design level seismic excitations and to meet life safe performance criteria at excitations of twice the design level.