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Structural Component Databases for Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering

Researchers: Emre Karamanci, Gabriel Martin, Maryia Markhvida, Samy Al. Bardaweel
Project Sponsor: National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, McGill University S.U.R.E.

Recent advancements in the evaluation of frame structures subjected to earthquake loading have focused on Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE). This methodology necessitates the use of reliable computer models that are able to predict the seismic behaviour of a frame structure from the onset of damage through collapse. Furthermore, the effect of the associated modeling uncertainty on the structural response needs to be quantified. As part of the same methodology, fragility curves are used to estimate the probability of a building and its structural components sustaining a certain level of damage as a function of engineering demand parameters such as story drift ratios or absolute floor accelerations. THis work aims to the development of structural component databases for (1) the reliable representation of structural component models in nonlinear analysis program; (2) the quantification of modeling uncertainties of such models and (3) the development of fragility curves that allow a rapid and reliable damage assessment of buildings and their components when they are subjected to earthquake loading. Of particular interest is the behaviour of such components at large deformations associated with dynamic collapse of the corresponding structural system. So far, we have developed guidelines and acceptance criteria for modeling:

  • Cyclic deterioration in strength and stiffness of various types of pre-qualified beam-to-column connections.

  • Cyclic deterioration in strength and stiffness of cold form rectangular HSS columns.

  • Cyclic buckling and fracture due to low cycle fatigue for three main types of steel braces that are commonly used in steel construction practice.

  • Cyclic deterioration in strength and stiffness of reinforced concrete (RC) beams.

Some of these guidelines have been recently adopted by the Applied Technology Council, (ATC-72) for modeling of high-rise steel buildings in the United States of America.

Selected Publications:


  1. Karamanci, E., Lignos, D.G. (2014). “Computational Approach for Collapse Assessment of Concentrically Braced Frames in Seismic Regions", ASCE, Journal of Structural Engineering, A4014019, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001011.

  2. Lignos, D.G., Karamanci, E. (2013). “Drift-Based and Dual-Parameter Fragility Curves for Concentrically Braced frames in Seismic Regions”, Journal of Constructional Steel Research, Vol. 90, 209-220.

  3. Karamanci, E., Lignos, D.G. (2013). “Collapse Assessment and Performance-Based Evaluation Techniques for Concentrically Braced Frames Designed in Seismic Regions”, M.Eng. Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

  4. Kazantzi, A.K., Vamvatsikos, D., Lignos, D.G. (2013). “Model Parameter Uncertainty Effects on the Seismic Performance of a 4-story Steel Moment-Resisting Frame,” Proceedings 11th International Conference on Structural Safety & Reliability (ICOSSAR), Columbia University, New York, NY, June 16-20, 2013.

  5. Lignos, D.G., Karamanci, E. (2013). “Predictive Equations for Modeling Cyclic Buckling and Fracture of Steel Braces,” Proceedings 10th International Conference on Urban Earthquake Engineering (10CUEE), Tokyo, Japan, March 1st-2nd, 2012.

  6. Lignos, D.G., Karamanci, E., Martin, G. (2012). “A Steel Database for Modeling Post-Buckling Behavior and Fracture of Concentrically Braced Frames Under Earthquakes,” Proceedings 15th World Conference of Earthquake Engineering (15WCEE), September 24th-28th, Lisbon, Portugal, 2012.

  7. Ramirez, C.M., Lignos, D.G., Miranda, E., Kolios, D. (2012). “Fragility Functions for pre-Northridge Welded Steel Moment-Resisting Beam-to-Column Connections”, Journal of Engineering Structures, Vol. 45, 574-584.

  8. Lignos, D.G., Krawinkler, H. (2012). “Development and Utilization of Structural Component Databases for Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering”, ASCE, Journal of Structural Engineering, doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0000646.

  9. Lignos, D.G., Krawinkler, H. (2011). “Deterioration Modeling of Steel Components in Support of Collapse Prediction of Steel Moment Frames under Earthquake Loading", ASCE, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 137 (11), 1291-1302.

  10. Lignos, D.G., Kolios, D., Miranda, E. (2010). “Fragility Assessment of Reduced Beam Section Moment Connections”, ASCE, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 136 (9), 1140-1150.

  11. Lignos, D.G., Krawinkler, H. (2010). “A Steel Database for Component Deterioration of Tubular Hollow Square Steel Columns under Varying Axial Load for Collapse Assessment of Steel Structures under Earthquakes”, Proceedings 7th International Conference on Urban Earthquake Engineering (7CUEE), Tokyo, March 3rd - 5th, Japan, 2010.

  12. PEER-ATC 72 (2010). “Modeling and Acceptance Criteria for Seismic Design and Analysis of Tall Buildings,” Rep. PEER/ATC-72-1, prepared by the Applied Technology Council in cooperation with the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, Redwood City, CA