Earthquake parameters affecting the performance of an RC frame with friction damper

•Nonlinear analysis of RC systems with friction damper is examined.•Correlation between ground motion parameters and peak displacement is investigated.•Different parameters play role in the peak demand according to the ranges.•The range is defined by period of an RC frame, the strength ratio and soil profile.

In this paper, correlation between the ground motion parameters and the peak displacement demand of a reinforced concrete single degree of freedom system retrofitted by friction dampers is investigated. The aim is to reveal the best parameters that are used in selecting earthquake records for nonlinear dynamic analysis of the system. Performing numerous nonlinear time history analyses, it is observed that different earthquake parameters play role in peak displacement demand related to the ranges formed by the different periods of a reinforced concrete frame, the strength ratio of total system at slip displacement and the stiff/soft soil profiles. For the both soil types, out of sixteen ground motion parameters, the eight, Spectral Response Acceleration, Peak Ground Acceleration, Effective Peak Acceleration, Maximum Incremental Velocity, Peak Ground Velocity, Arias Intensity, Arias Intensity-based Parameter and Effective Peak Velocity correlate better with peak displacement demand.