The Effects of the New Eurocode 8 Provisions on the Seismic Performance of Steel MRFs

Abstract Considering the significant changes in European regulations with the release of the second generation of Eurocodes, this article considers the implications of the new provisions of Eurocode 8 on the design and performance of steel moment resisting frame structures. In the new Eurocode 8, the limitation on second‐order effects is less stringent, and the restriction on drift at the serviceability limit state is not mandatory, which leads to a more economical design of moment‐resisting frames. The study evaluates how the provisions of the new Eurocode 8 influence seismic performance of a six story building, located on two different site categories, A and F, across ductility classes DC2 and DC3. The results are compared with those obtained from the design of a building with the same geometric configuration, according to the current Eurocode 8 (2004 version), in the ductility classes DCM and DCH. The research investigates the performance of the structures under seismic loading conditions, utilizing nonlinear static analysis. Finally, this article provides a discussion on effects of the new Eurocode 8 on the design and seismic performance of moment resisting frames.