Seismic analysis of strength degraded structures

Abstract

Structures such as unreinforced masonrywalls, soft-storey buildings, gravity structures and nonstructural components which include free-standing objects are well known to be non-ductile and yet commonly found in regions of low-moderate seismicity. Potential significant degradation in strength in these structural systems in projected earthquake scenarios has been a cause for concern. Shaking table experiments undertaken earlier by the authors revealed very interesting phenomena with the behaviour of ("non-ductile") free-standing objects in an earthquake. Importantly, the displacement time histories predicted by non-linear time history analysis are shown to be consistent with recordings from s..