The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

A methodology for computer-aided design of earthquake-resistant steel structures

Austin, Mark A.; Pister, Karl S.; Mahin, Stephen A.

UCB/EERC-85/13, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1985-12, 209 pages (620.1/A87/1985)

The development and preliminary testing of a methodology for the probabilistic limit states design of seismic-resistant steel structures are described. Emphasis is on the formulation of a mechanism which allows a designer to include the effects of uncertainties and multiple design objectives in an optimization-based design process. Sources of uncertainty in the seismic design environment are identified and described. The concept of preference pairs is proposed as a mechanism for allowing a designer to impart aspects of his or her engineering judgment and intuitive knowledge to the design process. Scaling procedures are given for combining these effects with the statistics of frame response to form a single design entity called "designer dissatisfaction." The design method is demonstrated in the design of a three-story, single-bay, moment-resistant steel frame, using a computer-aided design system called DELIGHT.STRUCT.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-85-13.pdf (50 MB)