CALIBRATION TO THE SEISMIC PROVISIONS FOR STEEL MOMENT RESISTING FRAMES IN THE NEW PROPOSED EGYPTIAN CODE FOR STEEL STRUCTURES

Abstract

Steel seismic design codes allow structures to be elastic during earthquakes of low and moderate severity, and inelastic during severe earthquakes. This concept is formulated by codes to ensure the functioning of buildings during and after small and intermediate earthquakes and to prevent collapse and loss of life during major earthquakes. To ensure that, the structures should be designed for strength, drift, and ductility limits.

Egyptian Code for Calculation of Loads and Forces for buildings (ECP-201) classified steel moment-resisting frames (MRFs) into frames with adequate ductility and frames with limited ductility, however, the current Egyptian code for steel construction and bridges (ECP-205) does not specify any provisions to attain such required ductility criteria.

This research calibrates the proposed seismic provisions for designing steel MRFs in the new Egyptian code for steel structure. In this regard, several frames were designed and detailed according to these provisions and tested by analyzing them using the pushover technique and under the action of various earthquake time histories. The frames structural responses were evaluated by examining their story drifts, provided ductility, and plastic hinging patterns. The study concluded that the proposed provisions achieve the seismic response presumed by (ECP-201) for steel MRFs.