Code-based Checks

Herein, the code-based checks to be carried out for the structural members may be selected. Different tabs for Frame Elements and Masonry Elements are available. In order to introduce a code-based check, users need to:

• Define the Code employed, six options are currently available: Eurocode 8-Part 3 with the National Annexes, ASCE 41-23 (American Code for Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Existing Buildings), NTC-18 (Italian National Seismic Code), KANEPE (Greek Seismic Interventions Code) and TBDY (Turkish Seismic Evaluation Building Code); additional information about the employed Codes may be found here;
• Define the values of the Safety Factors and the equations employed in the calculations, when more than one expressions are proposed;
• Select the Knowledge Level that corresponds to the available data on structural configuration;
• Define the Advanced Member Properties, i.e. all the parameters that characterise the member to be checked, classification (primary or secondary), type and length of lapping, detailing for earthquake resistance etc.;
• Click the 'Add' button;
• Introduce the check name;
• Select the code-based check type (i.e. element chord rotation capacity, element shear capacity or element bending moment capacity for frame elements and masonry shear capacity, compressive force, bending moment or drift for masonry elements) from the drop-down menu;
• Define the Limit States or the Performance Levels to be used to check the elements;
• Define the elements to which the check applies to;
• Define the Strength Degradation of the element, when a given code-based check has been reached. The user can specify the residual strength as a percentage of the capacity, or select to remove the element completely, or to keep it without strength degradation.
• Define the type of action upon the attainment of each check: (i) stop the analysis and introduce a notification in the analysis log, (ii) pause the analysis and introduce a notification in the analysis log, (iii) leave the analysis undisturbed and introduce a notification in the analysis log, (iv) ignore the occurrence, that is, render the check inactive;
• Assign a colour to enable graphical visualisation in the Deformed Shape Viewer module of the Post-Processor;
• Select the damage visual effects, in order to enable the graphical visualisation of damage in the Deformed Shape Viewer module.

The values of the safety factors and the Code expressions employed may be specified through the dialog box that opens from the corresponding button. It is noted that the default values of the safety factors are those specified in Codes.