Seismic design of soft-storey buildings

Abstract

This thesis presents the state-of-the-art on the seismic design and assessment of soft/weak storey buildings, specifically in what regards Building Code's specifications and recommendations for the seismic design of this type of vertical irregularity. A summary of various authors' past research on the topic of buildings with a soft/weak storey irregularity is shown. Afterwards, a short review of the influence of geometric second order effects (\(P\Delta\)) and cyclic degradation of elements in the global stability and collapse evolution of a framed structure with soft/weak storey characteristics is presented, complemented with collapse-assessment methodologies. The theoretical basis required for the definition of a practical criterion to delimit this type of irregularity is investigated, in order to posteriorly develop a design methodology that properly includes the most relevant aspects on the performance of such buildings. Finally conclusions are drawn as to the present state and future state of the topic.