DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE SEISMIC FORCE-RESISTING SYSTEMS FOR MID-RISE STEEL BUILDINGS

SUMMARY

This project aims to significantly improve the performance of mid-rise steel buildings under seismic loads. By reducing or eliminating both damage to structural elements and residual deformations, the direct cost of structural repairs is reduced, as well as the indirect cost of lost building use during those repairs. Large-scale shake table testing of the proposed system was completed at École Polytechnique in early 2011 and was featured on the TV program Découverte. The end objective of this project is to provide design guidance for practicing engineers to implement this system.

PUBLICATIONS
Wiebe, L., Christopoulos, C., and Pampanin, S. (2007). “Seismic Response of Self-Centering Base-Rocking Steel Structures.” Proceedings of the Ninth Canadian Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Ottawa, Canada.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
With the support of the G.J. Jackson Fellowship, Lydell Wiebe completed his first year of graduate studies in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. He then spent a year in Pavia, Italy, at the European School for Advanced Studies in Reduction of Seismic Risk (ROSE School), from which he received his MSc. He has since returned to the University of Toronto, where he is currently working toward his Ph.D. Lydell can be contacted at lydell.wiebe@utoronto.ca.