Mechanical properties of steel. Mechanical behaviour of steel beams and columns. Behaviour of connections. Methods of global analysis. Seismic design and codes. Ductility, behaviour factor and damage. Capacity seismic design. Typology of steel structures. Effect of global instability. Effects of diaphragms, semi-rigid connections and axial forces. Examples of seismic design of steel structures. Introduction to the performance-based seismic design. Displacement-based design. Hybrid force and displacement-based design. Damage controlled design. Use of advanced methods of analysis in seismic design.

• F.M. Mazzolani and V. Piluso (1996), Theory and Design of Seismic Resistant Steel Frames, E & FN Spon, London.
• D.E. Beskos and S.A. Anagnostopoulos, Editors (1997), Computer Analysis and Design of Earthquake Resistant Structures: A Handbook, WIT Press, Southampton.
• M. Bruneau, C. Uang and A. Whittaker (1998), Ductile Design of Steel Structures, McGraw-Hill, London.
• Eurocode 8 (2004), EC8: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance, Part 1: General Rules, Seismic Actions and Rules for Buildings, EN 1998-1:2004, European Committee for Standardization (CEN), Brussels.
• SEAOC Blue Book (1999), Recommented Lateral force Requirements and Commentary, 7th edition, Seismology Committee of SEAOC, Sacramento, California, USA.
• A number of articles will be distributed by the lecturer on specific topics (e.g., performance-based design, displacement-based design, hybrid force and displacement-based design, use of advanced methods of analysis in seismic design, damage controlled design)

Prerequisites

• Design of steel structural components
• Design of steel structures
• Structural dynamics

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures plus a term project

Assessment and grading methods

The performance of the students is assessed on the basis of a design project (30%) and a final exam in class (70%).