Prediction of seismic energy dissipation in SDOF systems

Abstract A simple analytical procedure is developed for calculating the seismic energy dissipated by a linear SDOF system under an earthquake ground excitation. The ground excitation is specified by its pseudo‐velocity spectra and effective duration whereas the SDOF system is defined by its natural period of vibration and viscous damping ratio. However, the derived relationship for the energy dissipation demand under an earthquake excitation is sensitive neither to the viscous damping ratio nor the ductility ratio when the SDOF system undergoes inelastic response. Accordingly, the proposed relationship can be employed in an energy‐based seismic design procedure for determining the required energy dissipation capacity of a structural system.