Performance of Steel Structures During the 1994 Northridge Earthquake

Abstract

Abstract: The performance of concentrically braced steel frames and moment resisting steel frames during the January 17, 1994, Northridge, California, earthquake is examined. Most of the observations made during the reconnaissance visits confirmed the current knowledge on the inelastic response of these structural systems. This permits the anticipation of proper seismic behavior for buildings designed according to the seismic provisions that have been recently introduced in the Canadian building code and standard for steel structures. In some cases, however, the observed damage raised concerns that should be addressed in future investigations or next editions of these codes. Preventing potentially hazardous nonstructural damage, avoiding premature nonductile failures anywhere along the lateral load paths, limiting structural and nonstructural damage due to brace buckling, and accounting for the vertical ground motion are among those issues. Key words: earthquake, seismic, steel, concentrically braced frames, moment resisting frames, weld. R&um & : Dans cet article, on examine et commente le comportement de charpentes mCtalliques avec contreventement en treillis ou cadres rigides lors du stisme qui a eu lieu le 17 janvier 1994 5 Northridge, en Californie. La majorit6 des observations faites lors des visites effectuCes sur le site confirment les connaissances dCji acquises sur le comportement non lintaire de ces systbmes structurau