Performance of steel structures during the 1994 Northridge earthquake

The performance of concentrically braced steel frames and moment resisting steel frames during the earthquake is examined. Most of the observations confirmed the current knowledge on inelastic response of these structural systems. This permits the anticipation of proper seismic behaviour for buildings designed according to the Canadian building code and standard. Preventing potentially hazardous nonstructural damage, avoiding premature nonductile failures anywhere along the lateral load paths, limiting structural and nonstructural damage due to brace buckling, and accounting for the vertical ground motion are among issues for future consideration. -from Authors