ng: Reports on Leading Edge Engineering from the 1996 NAE Symposium on Frontiers of Enginee http://www.nap.edu/catalog/5576.html Development of performance-Based Seismic design procedures SHARON L, WOOD Department of Civil Engineering University of Texa A Construction in the United States is regulated by a variety of codes. Al hough most members of the general public do not know details of the local electrical or plumbing codes, they are secure in the knowledge that compli nce provides the required level of safety for typical residential construction Within structural engineering building codes define the forces used in design and the procedures for calculating the nominal strength of members. The intent of building codes(BOCA, 1993: ICBO, 1994; SBCCi, 1993)is clear concerning design of a structure to resist gravity loads. Buildings are expected to support intended loads without structural damage or loss of integ- rity. With a few notable exceptions, such as the Hyatt Regency walkway in Kansas City, this goal is accomplished easily because the magnitudes of grav ity loads are well defined. In addition, the loads applied during construction often exceed those expected during normal use; therefore, most buildings have been subjected to a significant load test before being occupied But the intent of building codes is not as straightforward when for induced by earthquakes are considered. Although the general public may assume that compliance with the seismic provisions of the code provides the same level of structural performance that is achieved for gravity loads, the aim of the code actually is quite different. For a structure with an average occupancy, such as an office or apartment building, the objective of the cur rent building codes is"to safeguard against major failures and loss of life, not to limit damage, maintain functions, or provide for easy repair"(SEAOC 1990). It is not economical, nor is it architecturally feasible, for buildings other than extremely critical facilities to be designed to resist forces induced during the maximum credible earthquake without damage. Therefore, the Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved9 Construction in the United States is regulated by a variety of codes. Al￾though most members of the general public do not know details of the local electrical or plumbing codes, they are secure in the knowledge that compli￾ance provides the required level of safety for typical residential construction. Within structural engineering, building codes define the forces used in design and the procedures for calculating the nominal strength of members. The intent of building codes (BOCA, 1993; ICBO, 1994; SBCCI, 1993) is clear concerning design of a structure to resist gravity loads. Buildings are expected to support intended loads without structural damage or loss of integ￾rity. With a few notable exceptions, such as the Hyatt Regency walkway in Kansas City, this goal is accomplished easily because the magnitudes of grav￾ity loads are well defined. In addition, the loads applied during construction often exceed those expected during normal use; therefore, most buildings have been subjected to a significant load test before being occupied. But the intent of building codes is not as straightforward when forces induced by earthquakes are considered. Although the general public may assume that compliance with the seismic provisions of the code provides the same level of structural performance that is achieved for gravity loads, the aim of the code actually is quite different. For a structure with an average occupancy, such as an office or apartment building, the objective of the cur￾rent building codes is “to safeguard against major failures and loss of life, not to limit damage, maintain functions, or provide for easy repair” (SEAOC, 1990). It is not economical, nor is it architecturally feasible, for buildings other than extremely critical facilities to be designed to resist forces induced during the maximum credible earthquake without damage. Therefore, the Development of Performance-Based Seismic Design Procedures SHARON L. WOOD Department of Civil Engineering University of Texas Austin, Texas Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Frontiers of Engineering: Reports on Leading Edge Engineering from the 1996 NAE Symposium on Frontiers of Engineering http://www.nap.edu/catalog/5576.html