Seismic design of an irregular structure with Adaptive Pushover Analysis

Abstract

Recently we are using the European Codes for the design of structures for earthquake resistance but in some cases even European Code doesn’t gives realistic results. For irregular structures the European Code gives very simplified recommendations that if will be used for the design gives results that could produce a very heavy and expensive construction. The present paper in the first part will provide information about the EN-Eurocode 8 for Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance and its limitations. After that will be presented adaptive pushover procedure for nonlinear analysis of irregular structures. The APO theory will be used for the analyses of an existing structure. Firstly in the paper is given the information about the conditions of the existing structure. After that is performed the nonlinear analysis (adaptive pushover) and are given the structural measures suitable for retrofitting this type of structure. In the end, the paper makes recommendations on the methodology of design and the most appropriate strategy of retrofitting these kinds of structures in order to achieve the required level of performance and increase their level of security based on European Codes.