A database of seismic designs, nonlinear models, and seismic responses for steel moment-resisting frame buildings

Abstract

A number of simplified methodologies have been developed and used to estimate seismic drift demands in buildings. However, none of them have been systematically tested against a large number of buildings subjected to a diverse set of ground motions. This is partly attributed to the lack of existing databases of building designs, nonlinear structural models, and simulated seismic responses. This article introduces the development of a comprehensive database, which includes 621 special steel moment-resisting frames designed in accordance with modern codes and standards and their corresponding nonlinear structural models and seismic responses (i.e. peak story drifts, peak floor accelerations, and residual story drifts). The seismic responses for a subgroup of 100 steel moment-resisting frames subjected to three groups of site-specific ground motions (with 40 records each), at the service-level, design-based, and maximum considered earthquakes, are also included. The database has been utilized by the authors (in a separate study) to evaluate the performance of existing methods and develop data-driven and hybrid (combination of mechanics-based and data-driven) models for estimating seismic structural drift demands. The database can also be utilized in the development and implementation of a performance-based analytics-driven seismic design methodology.