COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE BASED STATIC METHODS IN TURKISH EARTHQUAKE CODE FOR FRAMES WITH VERTICAL STIFFNESS IRREGULARITY

Abstract

Seismic performance evaluation of existing RC buildings have commonly been performed by using Equivalent Seismic Load Method (ESLM) and Incremental Equivalent Seismic Load Method (IESLM), since Turkish Earthquake Code 2007 (TEC) including significant improvements have come into force. Although the significant deficiencies are available in ESLM with respect to IESLM, ESLM possess the area of usage same with IESLM according to TEC without any limitation. Therefore, investigation of consistency in results of these methods has importance. In this study, ESLM and IESLM are assessed comparatively on three RC building frames with vertical stiffness irregularity (soft story) and on a regular (reference) frame. Section damage levels, story drift ratios and frame (global) performance levels are compared in the assessment. In addition, the effect of confinement is investigated. The results show that, the consistency of the methods show large diversities according level of stiffness irregularity in frames. IESLM results in more damage levels for frames with higher irregularity. However, ESLM results in more damage levels for frames with lesser irregularity and regular frame. In addition, it has seen that the confinement in members was very effective on section damage regions and frame performance levels.