Summary Interpretation of SAC Survey Data on Damaged Welded Steel Moment Frames

Abstract

This paper summarizes the review and interpretation of data collected on welded steel moment frames (WSMFs) that were damaged in the January 17, 1994, Northridge Earthquake. The study was part of the Phase I, Task 2 SAC Steel Project funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The data assessment included 89 WSMFs surveyed by structural engineers, 150 buildings covered under a survey of owners, and ground motion contour maps with the geographic distribution of all WSMF buildings surveyed. Data collected from interviews with the structural engineers familiar with the buildings and their locations were used to independently validate the database and provide guidance on its interpretation. General conclusions on the significant trends in the data are presented, along with suggested future (Phase II) data gathering and statistical analysis.