Applicability of the direct displacement-based design method to steel moment resisting frames with setbacks

While quite extensive research has been undertaken during the last decades to extend the direct displacement-based design (DDBD) method to a wide range of structural types and materials, it is recognized that there are still some areas requiring further study and development. Steel structures and, more specifically, steel moment resisting frames with setbacks are one of these and, therefore, this work aims to investigate the seismic response of such structures designed according to the DDBD procedure currently prescribed for regular frames and to elaborate specific recommendations based on the results obtained. The main aspects to be considered are the adequacy of the displacement profile and higher mode reduction factor to be used, as well as the suitable strength distribution required. In a trial application of the current DDBD procedure, two two-dimensional 12-storey frames with setbacks are designed, and the solutions obtained are used to develop models of the structures, which are then subject to a series of non-linear time-history analyses at increasing levels of intensity, using spectrum-compatible scaled accelerograms. The results obtained are contrasted with those of Karavasilis et al. (J Constr Steel Res 64:644–654, 2008), which were developed for steel frames designed via code methods. It is recognized that the DDBD method can benefit from the expressions developed by these authors, and recommendations for the adjustment of the DDBD higher mode reduction factors are subsequently proposed. The efficacy of the latter is evaluated by the design and verification at a range of diverse intensities of a set of two-dimensional frames of 6, 9 and 12 storeys, and satisfactory outcomes are obtained. These results have been fundamental in revealing the need for future research regarding the influence of the design spectral shapes, ductility demand and P-Delta instability in the dynamic amplification of drifts due to higher mode effects.