Predicting floor response spectra for RC frame structures

In the framework of performance-based earthquake engineering, a fundamental step in the assessment of buildings is the definition of models for the prediction of the seismic demand, namely, the definition of functional relationships between Engineering Demand Parameters of interest (EDPs) and an earthquake Intensity Measure (IM). While many studies focused on EDP representative of the structural response, only few investigated EDP well correlated with the non-structural response. The objective of this paper is to evaluate commonly used IMs, which are currently available in the literature, with respect to their capability to predict Floor Response Spectra, EDPs usually adopted for defining the seismic demand in acceleration-sensitive non-structural elements. Selected for the study are two RC frame structures, characterized by different number of stories and masonry infill wall configurations, subjected to a large number of ordinary natural accelerograms.