Comparison between non linear dynamic analysis performed according to EC8 and elastic and non linear static analyses

The paper deals with the topic of analyses performed according to modern code provisions, in particular Eurocode 8 (EC8) rules. Elastic, non-linear static and non-linear dynamic analyses of a multi-storey r/c frame building designed according to Eurocode 2 (EC2) and EC8 provisions are carried out. The beam–column hierarchy of resistance rules are applied both according to the old (1994) and the new (2003) version of EC8: the large differences are discussed. The results of two different computer programs are compared, SAP2000 and CANNY99. A suite of 7 earthquakes (each with both the horizontal components), fully satisfying the EC8 provisions, are used as input of non-lineard ynamic analyses. The results show that the 3 methods of analyses provided by EC8 for new buildings respect a correct hierarchy in terms of safety, i.e. the simpler the analysis is the safer is the result returned: the building designed according to elastic analyses is verified by both non-linear static and dynamic analyses and displacements and total chord rotations demanded by non-linear static methodology are larger than those demanded by non-linear dynamic one.