Prediction of inelastic response periods of buildings based on intensity measures and analytical model parameters

• This paper investigates the elongation of the fundamental period of reinforced concrete buildings.
• Its correlation with engineering demand parameters and earthquake intensity measures is investigated.
• The implications of the predicted period lengthening on ground motion selection are discussed.

This paper investigates the elongation of the fundamental period of reinforced concrete buildings that occurs during earthquake loading and its correlation with various intensity measures and engineering demand parameters. For this purpose, five buildings designed according to modern seismic codes are studied through equivalent single degree of freedom nonlinear systems with hysteretic laws that represent various levels of stiffness degradation, strength deterioration and pinching. By means of an extensive parametric analysis using a large set of earthquake ground motions and a rigorous validation procedure, the period elongation is quantitatively assessed as a function of building configuration and design (structural system and ductility class), ground motion characteristics (peak ground acceleration, spectral acceleration, frequency content) and demand parameters (displacement ductility). The results indicate that structures, designed according to modern seismic codes, are expected to exhibit low-to-moderate period elongation even for twice the intensity of the design earthquake. Given that the fundamental period of buildings is a key parameter in most seismic code procedures for ground motion selection, design and assessment, the implications of the predicted period lengthening are also discussed. The results are of interest to designers and analysts, as well as code-development committees.