A hybrid force/displacement seismic design method for steel eccentrically braced frames

In the traditional procedures for seismic design of structures, performance levels of the structure are evaluated somewhat indirectly for which a trial and error algorithm is needed. Accordingly, a simplified approach is required to implement performance-based seismic design in a direct manner. This paper provides a hybrid force/displacement seismic design methodology which can anticipate the inelastic responses of eccentrically braced frames. Results illustrate that the suggested method has a relatively good agreement with those obtained by an inelastic dynamic analysis. Moreover, this method designs the structures based on more rational and less conservative responses and results in more cost-effective structures than the force-based design method and displacement-based design method.