Target Displacement Calculation for Nonlinear Pushover Analysis (FEMA 356)

Target displacement pushover analysis involves calculating the expected lateral movement of a structure during a seismic event. This document explains the process as per FEMA 356 Section 3.3.3.3.2, highlighting its importance in evaluating structural performance and ensuring safety. Accurate determination of target displacement is essential to understand and enhance a building’s seismic resilience.

Steps in Target Displacement Calculation

The target displacement calculation process includes the following steps:

1. Establishing Structural Characteristics: Begin by defining the stiffness, mass, and damping properties of the structure.
2. Determining the Design Seismic Demand: Next, calculate the seismic demand using FEMA 356 guidelines, incorporating ground motion parameters.
3. Performing Nonlinear Static Analysis (Pushover): Incrementally apply lateral loads to evaluate the structure’s capacity to resist seismic forces.
4. Calculating Target Displacement: Use FEMA 356 equations, considering factors such as spectral acceleration, period, and damping, to compute the target displacement.
5. Verification: Finally, compare the results with hand calculations to confirm accuracy and compliance with FEMA 356 standards.

This document also includes a detailed numerical example to break down these steps, offering practical insights for engineers.

Real-World Applications

ProtaStructure provides comprehensive tools to support nonlinear pushover analysis, making FEMA 356-compliant designs more efficient and accessible:

• Explore Real Projects: Browse our Projects Gallery to see how ProtaStructure enhances structural design.
• Customer Success Stories: Discover inspiring customer success stories showcasing advanced seismic analyses with ProtaStructure.

Conclusion

Accurate calculation of target displacement is vital for understanding structural behavior during seismic events. By automating this process, ProtaStructure streamlines nonlinear pushover analysis, ensuring compliance with FEMA 356 Section 3.3.3.3.2. With advanced tools for precise analysis and practical application, ProtaStructure empowers engineers to create safer, more resilient structures.