Abstract: In this study, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
analytical method has been developed for analyzing earthquake
performances of the Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings. 66 RC
buildings with four to ten storeys were subjected to performance
analysis according to the parameters which are the existing material,
loading and geometrical characteristics of the buildings. The selected
parameters have been thought to be effective on the performance of
RC buildings. In the performance analyses stage of the study, level of
performance possible to be shown by these buildings in case of an
earthquake was determined on the basis of the 4-grade performance
levels specified in Turkish Earthquake Code-2007 (TEC-2007). After
obtaining the 4-grade performance level, selected 23 parameters of
each building have been matched with the performance level. In this
stage, ANN-based fast evaluation algorithm mentioned above made
an economic and rapid evaluation of four to ten storey RC buildings.
According to the study, the prediction accuracy of ANN has been
found about 74%.
Abstract: The knee bracing steel frame (KBF) is a new kind of energy dissipating frame, which combines excellent ductility and lateral stiffness. In this framing system, a special form of diagonal brace connected to a knee element instead of beam-column joint, is investigated. Recently, a similar system was proposed and named as chevron knee bracing system (CKB) which in comparison with the former system has a better energy absorption characteristic and at the same time retains the elastic nature of the structures. Knee bracing can provide a stiffer bracing system but reduces the ductility of the steel frame. Chevron knee bracing can be employed to provide the desired ductility level for a design. In this article, relation between seismic performance and structural parameters of the two above mentioned systems are investigated and compared. Frames with similar dimensions but various heights in both systems are designed according to Iranian code of practice for seismic resistant design of building, and then based on a non-linear push over static analysis; the seismic parameters such as behavior factor and performance levels are compared.