Shear-beam model for the prediction of the response of MDOF systems subjected to severe earthquake ground shaking

In this research an equivalent discrete shear beam model has been used for the evaluation of seismic response of multi-storey frame structures. This choice provides a relatively easy numerical procedure. The possibility of modelling the multi-storey frames by means of a simple model allows to extend the analyses to a wide range of signals and structures and to establish response spectra also for aspects of the seismic demand that cannot be studied by means of SDOF systems, such as the inter-storey drift, particularly significant in presence of impulsive seismic action.