A Method to Predict Strength Requirements for Non-Structural Elements Permitted to Develop Nonlinear Response

Abstract

The required strength of non-structural elements that are permitted to develop nonlinear behavior can be far lower than the strength required to maintain elastic response. This work quantifies this difference using nonlinear floor response spectra from New Zealand instrumented buildings. This informs extensions to a recent method for predicting elastic floor spectra using structural modal characteristics. The updated method further includes the …