NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

LABORATORY FOR EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

Displacement-Based
Seismic Design
Ioannis N. Psycharis

Force-Based Seismic Design (codes)

● Although the structure is designed to yield during the design

earthquake, only the elastic part of the response, up to yield,
is examined. The analysis is based on the corresponding
secant stiffness.
● The design loads are determined by dividing the seismic loads
that would have been developed to the equivalent linear
system by the behaviour factor, q.
● A unique value of q is considered for the whole structure,
which does not reflect the real response.
● In order to satisfy the non-collapse criterion, capacity design
rules and proper detailing are applied, which lead to safe and
rather conservative design. However, the real deformation of
the structure (displacements) is usually underestimated.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 2

 Displacement-Based Design (DBD)

● The real deformation of each member of the structure is

examined.
● Two approaches:
♦ Method A
Check of an already pre-designed structure and make
improvements (increase dimensions of cross section) only to
members that have problems.
♦ Method B
Design from the beginning the structure for a certain
displacement (Direct Displacement-Based Design - DDBD).
The design displacement is usually determined by
serviceability or ultimate capacity considerations.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 3

A1. SDOF Structures

Developed for bridge piers (Moehle 1992): δu

δy δp

Moments Curvatures Displacements

Cu

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 4

 A1. SDOF Structures
 L 
δu  δy  (cu  c y )  L h   L  h 
 2
2
c L
where: δy  y = yield displacement
3
cy = yield curvature

Lh = length of plastic hinge

This relation yields to:

δu  δy
cu  cy 
 L 
Lh   L  h 
 2

which relates the ultimate curvature cu with the ultimate

displacement δu.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 5

A1. SDOF Structures

But cu is directly related

to critical strains of the
cross section.
For example, the strain
εu of the edge fiber can Neutral
axis
be written as:

εu
cu 
βh

Thus, the ultimate displacement, δu, can be associated with the

critical strains of the cross section of the plastic hinge.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 6

 A1. SDOF Structures

Simplification for:
● Cy small compared to Cu  Cy  0
● L–Lh/2  L
● Lh  h/2

δu εu
 L
L 2β

Lh
Lh
Cp Cy
Cu

Cu

Ιδεατό Προσεγγιστικό
Simplified diagram
Real diagram
διάγραμμα
of curvatures
καμπυλοτήτων ofδιάγραμμα
curvatures
καμπυλοτήτων

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 7

A1. SDOF Structures

Step 1
Calculate the effective period, Teff, using the secant stiffness at
the theoretical yield point.

Step 2
Calculate the ultimate displacement, δu, assuming that the equal
displacement rule holds, i.e. from the elastic response spectrum
for T=Teff and ζ=5%.

Step 3
Calculate the corresponding ultimate curvature, cu.

Step 4
Calculate the corresponding critical strains, εu, and check if they
are acceptable.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 8

 A1. SDOF Structures

(a) (b)

a) If the critical check concerns the compression of the concrete:

Let maxεu = 4‰. Also, βh = 0.36 m, β = 0.36/1.80 = 0.2.
δu 0.004
  0.01
L 0.2  2

b) If the critical check concerns the tension of the steel:

Let maxεu = 6%. Also, βh = 1.35 m, β = 1.35/1.8 = 0.75.
δu 0.06
  0.04
L 0.75  2

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 9

A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Panagiotakos & Fardis (1996)

● Pre-dimensioning
♦ Suggested to be based on the serviceability earthquake (can
be taken equal to 40-50% of the design earthquake,
depending on the importance) using the Force-Based
design.
♦ Elastic analysis (q=1) with simplified methods (e.g. lateral
force method of EC8). However, the stiffness corresponding
to the cracked sections must be used (can be taken equal to
25% of the uncracked).
♦ The period can be determined from the Rayleigh quotient:
n
 miδi2 mi  zi
i1
T  2π n where Pi  Vo n and δi = static
 Piδi  mj  z j displacement of
i1 j1 the ith floor due
to loads Pi.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 10

 A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Step 1
Calculate the required reinforcement of the beams (spans and
supports) and of the columns and walls at their base (foundation
level) for the most adverse combination:
● 1.35 G + 1.5 Q (non-seismic combination); or
● G + ψ2 Q + Es (seismic combination,
Εs = serviceability earthquake).

Step 2
Calculate the required reinforcement of the columns and the
walls at the rest of their height using the capacity design
procedure.

Step 3
Calculate the required shear reinforcement using capacity design.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 11

A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Step 4
Calculate more accurately the effective period, Teff, using the
secant stiffness at the yield point of each section, taking under
consideration the actual reinforcement. Approximate formulas
from the literature can be employed.

Step 5
Calculate the displacement δe of the equivalent SDOF system:
δe = Sde(Teff, ζ=5%).

In the following, the subscript “e” denotes the equivalent SDOF

system.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 12

 A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Step 6
Calculate the rotations at the end sections of the structural
members (beams, columns):
● The displacement at the ith storey can be written in terms of
the displacement of the equivalent linear system as:
δi = λi  δe
where λi is an unknown coefficient. Similarly,
ai = λi  ae

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 13

A2. Multi-storey Buildings

● Basic assumptions
1. The total seismic load of the multi-storey structure is equal
to the one of the equivalent SDOF structure (i.e. the base
shear V0 is the same):

Pe  meae
n
n n n n me   miλi
Pe   Pi   miai   miλiae  ae  miλi i1
i1 i1 i1 i1

Also,
Pe mλ
Pi  miai  miλiae  miλi  Pe n i i
me
 mjλ j Pi  Pe
miδi
j1 n
δi  mjδ j
λi 
δe j1

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 14

 A2. Multi-storey Buildings

2. The total work of the seismic loads is the same in the multi-
storey and the equivalent SDOF structure:
n
n  Piδi
Peδe   Piδi  δe  i1
Pe
or
i1

n
 miδi2
i1
δe  n (from the previous relation between Pi and Pe)
 miδi
i1

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 15

A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Let us define φi as the ratio of the displacement at the ith storey

over the top displacement:
δi
φi 
δtop
Then,
n
 miφi
i1
δtop  n
δe
 miφi2
i1

♦ The coefficients φi denote the deformation of the structure at

the maximum displacement and are not known a priori.

♦ If the expected plastic deformations are significant, the

analysis can be performed considering the following two
“extreme” cases:

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 16

 A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Case 1
δ top
In typical building, and due
to the capacity design that
has been performed, plastic
hinges are expected to form
at the base of the columns
and the walls and at the i
θ H tot
ends of the beams. θ

Then, assuming that the zi

plastic deformation is
significantly larger than the
elastic one:
n

zi δtop  mizi
φi    i1
δe
Htot Htot n
 mizi2
i1
δtop
and θ
Htot
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 17

A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Case 2
In case that it is expected that a δ top

“soft storey” mechanism will be

developed at the jth floor in the
ultimate deformation, it can be
set:
j
0 for i  1...( j  1) θ
φi  
1 for i  j...n j-1
zj
In that case: z j-1

δtop = δe and
δtop
θ
z j  z j1

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 18

 A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Intermediate case
For less extreme cases, it can be assumed that the relation of
the storey displacements for inelastic response is similar to the
one for elastic response. Then the coefficients φi can be
assumed equal to the ones that correspond to the elastic
displacements up to yield:
δiel
φi 
δel
top

The values of the 1st eigenmode can be used in that case as an

approximation.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 19

A2. Multi-storey Buildings

Inelastic storey displacements

After the values of φi have been determined with one of the
above-mentioned methods, the inelastic storey displacements
can be determined from the top displacement:
n
 mjφ j
j1
δi  δe  φi  n
 mjφ2j
j1

and the storey drifts are:

δi1  δi
θi 
zi1  zi
Step 6
Check that the above required rotations θi at the ends of the
structural elements are within the allowable limits.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 20

 Use Pushover analysis

● Can be used for the determination of the maximum

displacements of Method A and the plastic deformation at each
cross section.
● The target displacement of the equivalent SDOF system is
needed.

Sa
● Basic concept:
Demand = Capacity
Capacity spectrum
Καμπύλη ικανότητας

Σημείο
Performance point
επιτελεστικότητας

Elastic
Ελαστικό φάσμαspectrum
σχεδιασμού γιαfor effective
ενεργό απόσβεση damping
ήor inelastic spectrum
ανελαστικό φάσμα σχεδιασμού

Sd
TargetΣτοχευόμενη μετακίνηση
displacement

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 21

Equivalent SDOF system

● Storey distribution of seismic loads

miφi
Fi  V
 mjφ j
j

where:
♦ V = base shear
♦ φi = assumed distribution of storey displacements with φtop=1.
● Equivalence between forces and displacements
Q  Γ  Q*
where:
♦ Q = force or displacement of the MDOF system
♦ Q*= corresponding force or displacement of the SDOF system
♦ Γ = participation factor

Γ  miφi
 miφi2
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 22
 Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 1
Change elastic design spectrum to ADRS format

Sa Sa T1 T2

T3

T4

0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T 0 Sd
4π2 Sd
Sa   Sd T  2π
T2 Sa
T2
Sd  2  Sa
4π

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 23

Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 2
Calculate the capacity curve and change it to capacity spectrum
∆ Base shear
F4
V
Καμπύλη ικανότητας
Capacity curve
κατασκευής
Sa Sa Φάσμα ικανότητας
Capacity spectrum
ισοδύναμου μονοβαθμίου

F3

F2

F1

V=ΣFi
0 ∆ 0
Top displacement SdSd

V
Sa  ● V = base shear
α  mtot
● ∆ = top displacement
∆
Sd  ● mtot = total mass of MDOF
Γ
● α
 miφi 
2

Γ   miφi
Γ
m*
mtot   miφi2 mtot mtot
● m*   miφi
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 24
 Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 3
First estimation of the performance point
Elastic
Ελαστικό
spectrumφάσμα
for
Sa για
5%ζ=5%
damping

Φάσμα αντίστασης
Capacity spectrum

a1
1η δοκιμή
First estimation of
σημείου
the performance
point
επιτελεστικότητας
Ko=Kcr

0 δ1 Sd

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 25

Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 4
Bilinear representation of capacity spectrum
Elastic
Ελαστικό φάσμα
spectrum for
Sa για ζ=5%
5% damping
Φάσμα αντίστασης
Capacity spectrum

a1
A1
A2
ay
Ko

0 δy δ1 Sd

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 26

 Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 5
Calculation of effective damping
63.7  κ  (ay  δ1  δy  a1)
Sa
ζ eff (%)  5 
au a1  δ1
ay
Type of
ES0 ζhyst (%) κ
structure
Ko Keff  16.25 1.00

δy δu A
Sd > 16.25
0.51  (ay  δu  δy  au )
ED 1.13 
au  δu

< 25 0.67
B 0.446  (ay  δu  δy  au )
> 25 0.845 
au  δu
1 ED
ζ hyst   C All values 0.33
4π ES0
New structures of Structures of Structures of poor
Earthquake duration good seismic medium seismic seismic
performance performance performance
Short
A B C
(close to the epicenter)
Long
Β C C
(away from the epicenter)

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 27

Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 5 (cont.)
Design spectrum for ζ = ζeff
1 3.21  0.68  lnζ eff
SR A 
  SR A,min
Elastic BS 2.12
σταθ. Τ Ελαστικό
spectrumφάσμα
for
Sa για
5%ζ=5%
damping 1 2.31  0.41  lnζ eff
SR V    SR V,min
1:BS BL 1.65
Φάσμα αντίστασης
Capacity spectrum
Νέο σημείο
επιτελεστικότητας σταθ. Τ
a2
a1
1:BL

ay Ελαστικό
Elastic φάσμα
για ζ=ζeff for New
spectrum
Ko ζ=ζeff performance
point

0 δy δ1 δ2 Sd

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 28

 Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 5 (cont.)
Minimum values of SRA,min, SRV,min

Type of
SRA,min SRV,min
structure
A 0.33 0.50
B 0.44 0.56
C 0.56 0.67

Step 6
Check convergence
● If 0.95δ1 < δ2 < 1.05δ1 O.K.
● If not, repeat from step 5

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 29

Calculation of max displacements (ATC-40)

Step 7
Deformation of MDOF system and checks
● Calculate top displacement: ∆ = ΓSd
● Perform pushover analysis up to top displacement equal to ∆
and calculate the ultimate rotations at the joints.
● Check rotations of sections according to DBD.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 30

 Method B: DDB design

● The design is based on the target displacement, δu.

● The target displacement is defined by
♦ Serviceability criteria; or
♦ Ultimate capacity criteria.
● The “substitute structure” is used:
♦ Effective stiffness at the maximum displacement
♦ Effective damping considering the hysteretic energy
dissipation.
● The design is not based on the displacement ductility.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 31

B1. SDOF Structures

Developed for bridge piers (Kowalsky, Priestley & Macrae, 1995)

The method is based on the “substitute structure”
♦ Effective stiffness, Keff
♦ Effective damping, ζeff
♦ Effective period, Teff

Pu

Κ eo
Py

Κ cr
Κeff

δ
δy δu

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 32

 B1. SDOF Structures

Step 1
Definition of the design parameters:
● m = mass
● L = height of pier
● fc = concrete grade
● fy = yield stress of reinforcement
● Ε = Young’s modulus of elasticity
● δu = target displacement.
● An elastic displacement response spectrum must be available
for various values of damping

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 33

B1. SDOF Structures

Step 2
Determination of the substitute structure:
● Guess an initial value for the yield displacement, δy.
This value is arbitrary and will be used as the first
approximation. Suggestion: δy = 0.005L.
● Calculate the corresponding ductility μ = δu / δy.
● Calculate the corresponding effective damping, ζeff.
● Effective damping consists of two terms:
♦ the viscous damping, which is assumed equal to the one for
elastic behaviour (5% for RC structures); and
♦ the hysteretic damping, which can be estimated from the
ductility using relations from the literature. Such a relation,
based on the Takeda model, is suggested by the authors:
0.95
1  0.05 μ
μ
ζ eff  0.05 
π
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 34
 B1. SDOF Structures

Step 2 (cont’d)
● Calculate the effective period of the substitute structure from
the value of displacement spectrum that corresponds to Sd=δu
and ζ=ζeff.

Sd
ζ=0%
2% 5%
10%
ζ eff
20%
50%

δu

T eff T

● Calculate the effective stiffness of the substitute structure:

4π2m
K eff  2
Τeff
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 35

B1. SDOF Structures

Step 3
Calculate the design actions for the dimensioning of the pier.
● Seismic force at maximum displacement: Pu = Keff δu.
● Seismic force to be used for the design of the pier: Pd=Py:
Pu = Pd + rKcr(δu – δy)
where r=Keo/Kcr P

 Pu = Pd + rPd(μ – 1) Pu

Pu
 Pd  Py
Κ eo
rμ  r  1

Κ cr
Κeff
δ
δy δu
● Design moment at the base of the column: Md = Pd L

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 36

 B1. SDOF Structures

Step 4
● Choose the necessary cross section and calculate the required
reinforcement at the base of the pier for the moment Md and
the axial load N.
● Calculate the elastic stiffness Kcr from the estimated moment
of inertia of the cracked section, Icr, using the actual
reinforcement. Relations from the literature can be used
For circular cross section:
Icr
Ig

 0.21  12  ρ  0.1  205  (0.05  ρ)2
Ν

fc  A g
ρ = percentage of reinforcement
Ig = geometric moment of inertia
Ag = geometric area of section
N = axial force.
3EI
Then: K cr  3cr
L
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 37

B1. SDOF Structures

Step 5 (optional)
Check whether the selected section leads to reasonable results.
m
● “Elastic” period: Tcr  2π
Kcr
m
● “Plastic” period: Teo  2π where Keo = rKcr
Keo
In general: Τcr < Τeff < Τeo
● If Teff is not close to the limits, the design is correct and we
proceed to the following step.
● If Τeff is close to Τcr, the response is close to the elastic. In this
case, the design will lead to large amount of reinforcement and
small required ductility.
● If Τeff is close to Τeo, the design will lead to small amount of
reinforcement and large required ductility.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 38

 B1. SDOF Structures

Step 5 (cont’d)

P P

Pu
Κ eo
P Pu
y

Κ eo
Py
Κ eff
Κcr Κ eff Κ cr
δ δ
δy δu δy δu

Teff close to Tcr Teff close to Teo

Suggested action: Suggested action:
Increase dimensions of Decrease dimensions of
cross section (decrease δy) cross section (increase δy)

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 39

B1. SDOF Structures

Step 6
Check convergence.
Pd
● Calculate new yield displacement: δy 
Kcr
● If δy  δy  ε  δy , where ε = required accuracy (e.g. ε=5%),
stop iterations. Otherwise, repeat procedure from step 2 using
δy’ as the yield displacement.

Step 7
After convergence is achieved, calculate the horizontal
reinforcement (stirrups) to guarantee capacity of the section to
develop the required curvature ductility:
μ∆  1
μC  1 
3  (Lh / L)  (1  0.5L h / L)

where Lh = length of plastic hinge.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 40

 B1. SDOF Structures

Example
Step 1
● m = 500 Mgr
● L = 5.0 m
● fc = 40 MPa
● fy = 400 MPa
● E = 31.62 GPa
● δu/L = 3%  δu = 0.03  5.0 = 0.15 m.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 41

B1. SDOF Structures

Step 2
● δy = 0.005  L = 0.025 m
● μ = δu / δy = 0.150 / 0.025 = 6.0
0.95
1  0.05  6.0
● ζ eff  0.05  6 .0  0.206
π
● Let Teff = 1.627 sec, as derived from response spectrum for:

Se = δu = 0.15 m and ζ = ζeff = 0.206

4π2m 4π2  500

● Keff  2
  7457 ΚΝ / m
Τeff 1.6272

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 42

 B1. SDOF Structures

Step 3
● Pu = Keff  δu = 1118 KN
● Mu = 1118  5.0 = 5589 KNm

● Pd  Pu 1118 (for r = 5%)

  894.4 KN
rμ  r  1 0.05  6.0  0.05  1
● Md = 894.4  5.0 = 4472 KNm

Step 4
● Circular section with diameter D = 1.1 m. Let N = mg = 5000 KN
● Let ρ=1.76% for N = 5000 KN and M = 4472 KNm

●
Icr
Ig

 0.21  12  0.0176  0.1  205  (0.05  0.0176)2  500  10
1.12
 0.463
40  103  π 
4
● Ιg = πD4/64  Icr = 0.033 m4  Icr = 0.033 m4
3  E  Icr 3  31.62  106  0.033
● Kcr    25233 KN / m
L3 5.03
I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 43

B1. SDOF Structures

Step 5

● Tcr  2π 500
 0.884 sec
25233
● Κeo = 0.05  25233 = 1262 KN/m
500
● Teo  2π  3.954 sec
1262
● Since 0.884 < 1.627 < 3.954, we proceed to the following
step.

Step 6
Pd 894.4
● δy    0.035 m
Kcr 25233
● Initial guess: δy = 0.025 m. No convergence achieved 
repeat procedure.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 44

 B2. MDOF structures

Kalvi & Kingsley (1995) for bridges with many piers

Pi δi

mi

The method starts with an initial guess for the displacements,

which is improved through iterations.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 45

B2. MDOF Structures

Equivalent DSOF system

● Ke = stiffness of equivalent SDOF
● ζe = damping of equivalent SDOF
● δe = displacement of equivalent SDOF
● Ρe = seismic force of equivalent SDOF

Assume that the displacements, δi, of the MDOF system can be

determined from the displacement of the equivalent SDOF, δe,
through appropriate coefficients φi:
δi = φi  δe
Assume that the accelerations follow the same distribution:
ai = φi  ae

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 46

 B2. MDOF Structures

Equivalent DSOF system (cont’d)

● Equal seismic force in the two systems:
n n n n
Pe   Pi   miai   miφiae  ae  miφi
i1 i1 i1 i1
n
But, Pe = meae , thus me   miφi
i1

Pe mφ
Also, Pi  miai  miφiae  miφi  Pe n i i
me
 mjφ j
δi j1
and φi 
δe
therefore
miδi
Pi  Pe n
 mjδ j
j1

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 47

B2. MDOF Structures

Equivalent DSOF system (cont’d)

● Equal work of the seismic forces in the two systems:
n n n
n  Piδi Pe  miδi2  miδi2
Peδe   Piδi  δe  i1
 i1
n
 δe  i1
n
Pe
i1
Pe  miδi  miδi
i1 i1

Properties of equivalent SDOF system

● Stiffness of equivalent SDOF system:
Pe
Ke 
δe

● The damping of the equivalent SDOF system, ζe, is calculated

from the damping of each pier, ζi, which depends on the
ductility μi that is developed at the pier and can be derived
using relations from the literature.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 48

 B2. MDOF Structures

Step 1
● Define the target displacement δi,u of each pier.
● In order to have similar damage in all piers, we can assume
same drifts: δi/Ηi. Thus:
δi,u = drift  Ηi
● Make an initial estimation of the yield displacements of the
piers, δi,y and calculate the ductility for each pier:
δi,u
μi 
δi,y

● Calculate the equivalent damping, ζe, for each pier from the
corresponding ductility (similarly to the SDOF systems).

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 49

B2. MDOF Structures

Step 2
● Derive the parameters of the equivalent SDOF structure:
♦ Calculate the total effective damping, ζe, combining the
damping, ζi, of the piers.
♦ Calculate the displacement of the equivalent SDOF system,
δe, from the displacements δi,u of the piers:
n
 miδi2,u
i1
δe  n
 miδi,u
i1

♦ Calculate the period of the equivalent SDOF system, Τe.

♦ Calculate the coefficients φi=δi,u/δe
♦ Calculate the mass of the equivalent SDOF system:
n
me   miφi
i1

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 50

 B2. MDOF Structures

Step 2
● Then:
4π2  me
Ke 
Te2
Pe = Keδe

and the forces Pi at the top of each pier can be derived:

miδi
Pi  Pe n
 mjδ j
j1

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 51

B2. MDOF Structures

Step 3
● Static analysis of the system for the forces Pi and calculation of
the displacements and the forces that are developed. The
inelastic response must be considered, e.g. nonlinear static
(pushover) analysis or elastic analysis with reduced stiffness
for the piers.
● Calculate the accuracy εi of the obtained displacements δi of
the piers, similarly to the SDOF systems.

Step 4: checks
● If satisfactory accuracy is not achieved, change dimensions of
cross sections or reinforcement of piers and repeat procedure.
● If satisfactory accuracy is achieved, verify that the piers can
bear the loads.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 52

 Comparison of the two methods

Method A (DBD)
● Check the capacity of a pre-designed structure to deform with
the required plastic rotations at critical sections.
● Increase dimensions of cross sections that are insufficient.
● The analysis is based on the linear system that corresponds to
the yield stiffness and 5% damping.

Method B (DDBD)
● Directly design the structure for the target displacement.
● The analysis is based on the substitute linear system that
corresponds to the effective stiffness at the max displacement
and the equivalent effective damping.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 53

Problems in the application

● Accurate calculation of the real displacements is needed.

● The use of displacement design spectra is problematic, due to
many uncertainties.
● The distribution of the deformation at the maximum
displacement of MDOF systems is needed.
● The plastic rotation capacity of a section is not easy to be
calculated (empirical formulas exist for simple cross sections
only).
● Method B (DDBD) might not converge in some cases.

I. N. Psycharis “Displacement-Based Seismic Design” 54