scope:

PREFACE

This is the first edition of the AISC Seismic Design Manual, intended to assist designers in properly applying AISC standards and provisions in the design of steel frames to resist highseismic loadings. This Manual is intended for use in conjunction with the AISC Steel Construction Manual, 13th Edition.

The following consensus standards are printed in Part 6 of this Manual:

2005 Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 341-05)

2005 Prequalified Connections for Special and Intermediate Steel Moment Frames for Seismic Applications (ANSI/AISC 358-05)

Modern building codes and standards have evolved over time to adopt a consistent approach to the design of structures for seismic resistance throughout the country. This approach is reliability based and considers the probability of failure consistently for design in all U.S. locations. Because of this shift in philosophy, seismic design is no longer simply a West-coast concern - the potential effects of seismic events are now considered in all parts of the country.

For many years, AISC has published the Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings. The Seismic Provisions provide the design requirements for steel structures that are intended to perform with a level of ductility sufficient to deform and dissipate energy while resisting the forces and effects induced by seismic loading. To assist designers in applying the requirements of the Seismic Provisions, AISC has developed this Seismic Design Manual as a practical guide to the requirements of the Seismic Provisions and their application in design.

This Seismic Manual provides guidance on each of the common steel lateral systems, including braced frames, moment frames, and eccentrically braced frames. It then gives detailed design examples to highlight special design and detailing requirements for the performance of these systems under seismic loading. Although only the LRFD method has been presented in this initial release of the Seismic Manual, design by ASD is permitted in accordance with the Seismic Provisions.

This Seismic Manual is based on information contained in NEHRP (National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program) Recommended Provisions for Seismic Regulations for New Buildings and Other Structures (FEMA 368/369), the AISC Seismic Provisions (AISC 341- 05), and ASCE 7, Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures (ASCE 7-05). These documents contain some overlap, and references in this Seismic Manual generally are to ASCE 7, as well as to the AISC Seismic Provisions. The Seismic Provisions have introduced the term "Applicable Building Code" as a reminder that seismic provisions in local building codes may differ in form and content from these two reference standards.