Damage-Controlled Structures. I: Preliminary Design Methodology for Seismically Active Regions

A damage-controlled structure is defined as a combination of structural systems and energy transformation devices that are integrated in such a way that damage due to a major loading is restricted to a specific set of elements that can be readily repaired. This paper describes a preliminary design methodology for building structures subjected to seismic loading, and presents a comprehensive set of numerical simulations illustrating the response of typical structures designed according to this methodology. The proposed design considers the structure to consist of two independent structural systems that work together to satisfy a design requirement on the deformation. The first system functions as the principal load-carrying mechanism for vertical and lateral service loads, while the second structure's role is to dissipate and absorb the energy introduced by significant ground shaking. The key design parameters are the elastic stiffness distribution of the primary system, and the damping characteristics of the secondary system. An optimal evaluation of these parameters is presented for a specific choice of material strengths. The data show that the damage control design paradigm generates very good estimates for preliminary design in this case.