Nonlinearities, whether geometric or material, need to be addressed in seismic analysis. One good analysis method that can address these nonlinearities is direct time integration with Rayleigh damping. Modal damping is the damping typically specified in seismic analysis Codes and Standards [1,2]. Modal damping is constant for all frequencies where Rayleigh damping varies with frequency. An approach is proposed here for selection of Rayleigh damping coefficients to be used in seismic analyses that are consistent with given Modal damping. The approach uses the difference between the modal damping response and the Rayleigh damping response along with effective mass properties of the model being evaluated to match overall system response levels. This paper provides a simple example problem to demonstrate the approach. It also provides results for a finite element model representing an existing piping system. Displacement, acceleration, and stress results are compared from model runs using modal damping and model runs using Rayleigh damping with coefficients selected using the proposed method.

Nonlinearities, whether geometric or material, need to be addressed in seismic analysis. One good analysis method that can address these nonlinearities is direct time integration with Rayleigh damping. Modal damping is the damping typically specified in seismic analysis Codes and Standards [1,2]. Modal damping is constant for all frequencies where Rayleigh damping varies with frequency. An approach is proposed here for selection of Rayleigh damping coefficients to be used in seismic analyses that are consistent with given Modal damping. The approach uses the difference between the modal damping response and the Rayleigh damping response along with effective mass properties of the model being evaluated to match overall system response levels. This paper provides a simple example problem to demonstrate the approach. It also provides results for a finite element model representing an existing piping system. Displacement, acceleration, and stress results are compared from model runs using modal damping and model runs using Rayleigh damping with coefficients selected using the proposed method.

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Section 7.6 of ASCE 4-Rev 2, Seismic Analysis of Safety-Related Nuclear Structures: Standard and Commentary, provides updated guidance for analysis of rocking and sliding of unanchored structures and components subjected to seismic load. This guidance includes provisions both for simplified approximate energy-based approaches, and for detailed probabilistic time history analysis using nonlinear methods. Factors to be applied to the analytical results are also provided to achieve demand estimates at the 80% non-exceedance probability level. The present paper surveys the published literature supporting these provisions. The results of available testing and analyses are compared to results produced by both simplified and probabilistic approaches. In addition, adequacy of the standard's provisions for analysis methods and factors is assessed. A comparison is made between the achieved level of conservatism and the standard's nonexceedance probability target.