Seismic design of steel structures in accordance with CSA-S16-09

Standard S16 "Design of Steel Structures" of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) governs the design of the majority of steel structures in Canada. Clause 27 of the standard includes the earthquake design provisions for seismic force resisting systems for which ductile seismic response is expected. Technical changes and new requirements have been incorporated in the 2009 edition of CSA S16, including modifications of the expected material properties for HSS members, consideration of protected zones, definitions of brace probable compressive and tensile resistances for capacity design and special requirements for braces intersecting columns between floors for concentrically braced steel frames, new seismic provisions for buckling restrained braced steel frames, design and detailing requirements for built-up tubular ductile links in eccentrically braced steel frames, changes to the requirements for ductile steel plate walls and for plate walls with limited ductility, including allowances for perforations and corner cut-outs in infill plates, and special provisions for steel frames of the Conventional Construction category above 15 m in height. These modifications were developed in parallel with the 2010 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). The paper summarizes the new CSA S16-09 seismic design requirements with reference to NBCC 2010.