Ductility Estimation for a Novel Timber–Steel Hybrid System

Abstract

In current force-based seismic design procedures, structures are allowed to behave inelastically during significant seismic events. For this reason, the applied design base shear of a structure is calculated by reducing the elastic strength demand by a ductility factor that represents the ability of a structure or structural system to deform inelastically beyond yielding. Whereas North American building codes provide ductility factors for traditional structural systems, including timber-based or steel-based systems, there are currently no design provisions available for novel hybrid structural systems. Thus research is required to define the force reduction factors, and specifically the ductility factor,