Seismic performance of mid-to-high rise modular steel construction - A critical review

Modular steel construction (MSC) comprises off-site manufactured volumetric modules and on-site assembly, leading to reduced construction periods, improved quality, and reduced waste of resources. This environmentally friendly solution has been extensively used for low-rise buildings as an alternative to traditional on-site construction. The popularity of MSC has now spread to mid-to-high rise applications in seismic regions to meet the increasing urban construction demand, owing to its significant technical advantages. The influence of earthquake becomes critical as the height of the building increases. Hence, this paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the seismic performance of mid-to-high MSC and articulates the key technical issues. The module classification is presented as a brief introduction of MSC, followed by discussion of the structural system. Afterwards, the seismic performance of the lateral force resisting system and recent innovations on the connection system are reviewed in detail, on which the seismic performance of MSC highly depend. The global seismic response analysis methodology, characteristics, failure mode as well as the current design criteria are evaluated, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the seismic performance of MSC. Finally, the recently developed isolation systems for MSC are introduced. As a currently developing area, there is great potential for innovation in mid-to-high rise MSC. Despite progressively increasing research exploring the seismic performance of MSC, a comprehensive understanding of this topic has not been achieved, hindering the further prevalence of mid-to-high rise MSC in areas with potential seismic hazards. Given this situation, several key research areas are suggested thereupon at last, aiming to promote the further extended application of MSC in seismic regions. •Module classification and structural form of modular steel construction (MSC).•State-of-the-art review on the seismic performance of mid-to-high rise MSC.•Research progress on the lateral force resisting system and connection system.•Currently available seismic design criteria are summarized and evaluated.•Key research areas are identified for extended seismic application of MSC.