A Normalized Hysteretic Energy Spectrum for Energy-Based Seismic Design

Abstract

To disclose the impacts of hysteretic energy (HE) demand on energy-based seismic design, this paper introduces the dimensionless parameter βEH to express the cumulative HE indirectly and establishes the βEH spectrum for energy-based seismic design. After analyzing numerous seismic responses of a single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system, the author set up a simplified βEH spectral formula based on the genetic algorithm. Then, 750 ground motion records were selected according to Chinese site classification, and used to examine the effects of soil type and damping ratio on the βEH spectra. The results show that the soil type, site group and damping ratio have significant effects on the βEH spectra; the ductility ratio has an impact on the spectral value but not the spectral shape.