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Performance-Based Seismic Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Moment-Resisting Frames: A Comparative Study of FBD and DBD
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Reinforced Concrete
DOI: 10.64388/IREV10I2-1722395
Abstract
The seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures has traditionally been evaluated using force-based design procedures, wherein seismic demand is represented through equivalent lateral forces derived from elastic response spectra. Although this approach has been widely adopted in national and international design codes, it primarily focuses on strength requirements and often provides only an indirect estimate of actual structural damage during earthquake events. Recent developments in performance-based earthquake engineering have highlighted the importance of displacement as a more realistic indicator of structural performance and damage. Consequently, displacement-based design methodologies have gained considerable attention due to their ability to directly relate structural response to predefined performance objectives. The present study investigates and compares the seismic performance of reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame buildings designed using Force-Based Design (FBD) and Displacement-Based Design (DBD) approaches. Three regular reinforced concrete frame structures consisting of 8, 10 and 12 storeys were modeled and analyzed using ETABS software. The buildings were designed in accordance with the provisions of IS 1893:2016 and subjected to seismic loading representative of Indian earthquake-prone regions. Response Spectrum Analysis was employed to evaluate the force-based response of the structures, while nonlinear pushover analysis was adopted to assess displacement-based seismic behavior and performance characteristics.
Keywords
force-based design, displacement-based design, reinforced concrete frames, seismic performance, performance-based seismic design, etabs, pushover analysis, earthquake engineering.
References
[1] Chandler, A. M., and Mendis, R., “Performance Assessment of Existing Reinforced Concrete Frame Structures,” Engineering Structures, Vol. 22, No. 10, 2000, pp. 1328–1341.
[2] Xue, J., and Chen, Y., “Direct Displacement-Based Seismic Design for Reinforced Concrete Structures,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 129, No. 11, 2003, pp. 1486–1495.
[3] Priestley, M. J. N., Calvi, G. M., and Kowalsky, M. J., Displacement-Based Seismic Design of Structures, IUSS Press, Pavia, Italy, 2007.
[4] Chopra, A. K., Dynamics of Structures: Theory and Applications to Earthquake Engineering, 5th Edition, Pearson Education, 2020.
[5] FEMA 356, Prestandard and Commentary for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C., USA, 2000.
[6] ATC-40, Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Concrete Buildings, Applied Technology Council, California, USA, 1996.
[7] IS 1893 (Part 1): 2016, Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India, 2016.
[8] IS 456:2000, Plain and Reinforced Concrete – Code of Practice, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India, 2000.
[9] IS 13920:2016, Ductile Design and Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Structures Subjected to Seismic Forces, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India, 2016.
[10] Computers and Structures Inc., ETABS Integrated Building Design Software, Version 20, User Manual, Berkeley, California, USA, 2023.
[11] Muljati, I., Asisi, I., and Willyanto, H., “Comparison of Force-Based Design and Direct Displacement-Based Design for Reinforced Concrete Moment Resisting Frames,” Procedia Engineering, Vol. 125, 2015, pp. 108–115.
How to cite this paper
@article{1722395,
author = {Ashutosh Luhania, Hemant Agarwal, Sunil Kumar, Vijay Saini},
title = {Performance-Based Seismic Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Moment-Resisting Frames: A Comparative Study of FBD and DBD},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {1563-1578},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722395.pdf},
abstract = {The seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures has traditionally been evaluated using force-based design procedures, wherein seismic demand is represented through equivalent lateral forces derived from elastic response spectra. Although this approach has been widely adopted in national and international design codes, it primarily focuses on strength requirements and often provides only an indirect estimate of actual structural damage during earthquake events. Recent developments in performance-based earthquake engineering have highlighted the importance of displacement as a more realistic indicator of structural performance and damage. Consequently, displacement-based design methodologies have gained considerable attention due to their ability to directly relate structural response to predefined performance objectives. The present study investigates and compares the seismic performance of reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame buildings designed using Force-Based Design (FBD) and Displacement-Based Design (DBD) approaches. Three regular reinforced concrete frame structures consisting of 8, 10 and 12 storeys were modeled and analyzed using ETABS software. The buildings were designed in accordance with the provisions of IS 1893:2016 and subjected to seismic loading representative of Indian earthquake-prone regions. Response Spectrum Analysis was employed to evaluate the force-based response of the structures, while nonlinear pushover analysis was adopted to assess displacement-based seismic behavior and performance characteristics.},
keywords = {force-based design, displacement-based design, reinforced concrete frames, seismic performance, performance-based seismic design, etabs, pushover analysis, earthquake engineering.},
month = {August},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722395}
}