Author(s)

Ronald Ugel, Juan Carlos Vielma, Reyes Herrera, Sigrit Perez, Alex Barbat

Senior Technical School of Roads, Canals and Ports Engineers of Barcelona, Technical University of Catalonia. Barcelona, Spain.
Structural Engineering Department, School of Civil Engineering, Lisandro Alvarado University. Barquisimeto, Venezuela.

The object of this study is to determine the seismic response of regular high-rise steel buildings with chevron-braced frames. Mechanics models of three buildings of 14, 18 and 20 stories are studied, all of them with similar geometric characteristics in plant and elevation. These models are realized using prescriptions and parameters from venezuelan design codes. The seismic action is carry on through varius synthetic design spectrum compatible accelerograms defined by the seismic codes in this study, with three levels of intensity corresponding to three specific Limit States. Dynamic analysis is used to compute parameters of ductility, over strength and maximum displacements. From these results it can be concluded that chevron-braced frames presented a good overall performance and non V-braced frames show greater damage due to dynamic actions, validating non linear dynamic analysis as a very powerful tool to seismic-resistance design and chevron-braced frames as a very useful choice in improving the response of tall steel structures. since this lateral bracing system is absent from Venezuelan seismic codes.

Framed Steel Buildings; Chevron Braced Frames; Non Linear Analysis; Over Strength; Seismic Response

Ugel, R. , Vielma, J. , Herrera, R. , Perez, S. and Barbat, A. (2012) Seismic response of high-rise steel framed buildings with Chevron-braced designed according to Venezuelan codes. Natural Science, 4, 694-698. doi: 10.4236/ns.2012.428091.