A method for the direct determination of approximate floor response spectra for SDOF inelastic structures

Abstract

Floor response spectra, which are used for the seismic design of equipment, are often based on the assumption that the behaviour of a structure and its equipment is linearly elastic. Significant reductions in the peak values of floor acceleration spectra can be achieved if inelastic behaviour of the structure is taken into account. This paper presents the most important results of an extensive parametric study of floor acceleration spectra, taking into account inelastic behaviour of the structure, and linear elastic behaviour of the equipment. The structure and the equipment were modelled as single-degree-of-freedom systems. The influences of the input ground motion, ductility, hysteretic behaviour and the natural period of the structure, as well as that of damping of the equipment, have been studied. A simple practice-oriented method for direct determination of floor acceleration spectra from an inelastic spectrum for the structure and an elastic spectrum for the equipment is proposed and validated. In this method, the floor response spectra in the resonance region, where the natural period of the equipment is close to the natural period of the structure, are based on the empirical values obtained in the parametric study, whereas the spectra in the pre- and post-resonance regions are based on the principles of dynamics of structures. The method is intended for a quick estimation of approximate floor acceleration spectra.