DEFINITION OF SUITABLE BILINEAR PUSHOVER CURVES IN NONLINEAR STATIC ANALYSES

Reliability of results obtained through nonlinear static analyses is strongly dependent on the assessment of the performance point, usually computed by means of the capacity spectrum method. The use of constant ductility spectra as demand spectra, in place of reduced spectra for assigned equivalent viscous damping, can provide better results and a larger stability in the evaluation method of the performance point. In this case, the capacity curve of the SDOF equivalent system has to be transformed in a bilinear curve for computing the available ductility. Such a conversion can be performed according to several criteria that significantly influence results. In this paper, results of analyses carried out in order to assess the dependence of the performance point value on parameters controlling the bilinear relationship and on conversion procedure are shown. Reliability and accuracy of procedures proposed by ATC 40, Eurocode 8 and italian seismic code PCM 3274 as well as of procedures based on the use of constant ductility spectra is assessed by comparing results with the ones from nonlinear dynamic analyses.