The seismic design of the structures is subjected to the uncertainties originating from various sources. To ensure that a safe design is achieved, the uncertainties must be considered in the seismic design process. The reliability-based seismic design is the proper approach that directly takes into account the uncertainties. In this approach, the performance objectives are the reliability-based seismic criteria expressed either in terms of an annual probability of exceeding a given performance level or in terms of a probability of exceeding a given performance level conditioned on the seismic intensity corresponding to a specific hazard level. It is obvious that the ultimate aim of the reliability-based seismic design of a building is not only to satisfy the reliability-based seismic criteria, but also to minimize the initial or life-cycle cost. The reliability-based seismic design optimization (RBDO) is the method that achieves the most economic design satisfying the reliability-based seismic criteria (probabilistic constraints). However, the RBDO is less preferred. This is because to ensure that reliability-based seismic criteria are achieved, the statistics parameters of the seismic demand and capacity must be determined through the results of the nonlinear dynamic analyses. On the other hand, the use of the nonlinear dynamic analyses in the RBDO method can lead to the increase of the computational cost so that the personal computers require several years to run it. In this study, a method to produce the reliability-based economic seismic design is proposed. Reliability-based seismic criteria are expressed in terms of a mean annual probability of exceeding a given performance level. The main goals are to ensure satisfying the reliability-based seismic criteria through the use of the results of the incremental dynamic analyses and to produce the economic seismic design within reasonable computing time. The proposed method achieves the two goals through determining the optimum design of the force-based design method that satisfies the reliability-based seismic criteria. The optimum design of the force-based design method depends on the value of the response modification factor. The value of the response modification factor of a building, which leads to satisfying the reliability-based seismic criteria, is in the range of one to a maximum value. From an economic point of view, the desirable value of the response modification factor is the maximum one, which results in a minimum design base shear and accordingly in an economic design. In order to respond to the two main goals, the method aims to determine the maximum value of the response modification factor of a building so that leads to satisfying the reliability-based seismic criteria. The proposed method is used to produce the seismic design of a 4-story building for two reliability-based seismic criteria. The steel special moment resisting frame is considered as the lateral load resisting system in the studied building. The results reveal that the proposed method can efficiently produce the economic seismic designs satisfying the reliability-based seismic criteria within reasonable computing time. While the designed frame by Zacharenaki et al using existing RBDO method can not satisfy spesifications of reliability.

When a specific building is examined and analysed for its architectural merits, it is the visible, superficial aspects, which are considered, for example: aesthetics, function, spatial relationships, and landscape. One of the most important invisible factors that should be considered in the design process is the safety of buildings against natural hazards, particularly against earthquakes. While the provision of earthquake resistance is accomplished through structural means, the architectural designs and decisions play a major role in determining the seismic performance of a building. In other words, the seismic design is a shared architectural and engineering responsibility, which stems from the physical relationship between architectural forms and structural systems. It is economic to incorporate earthquake resistance in the stage of design than to add it later in the structural calculation or strengthening after completion. In addition, a building with proper earthquake-proof design will be more effective against earthquakes than the one with complementary strengthening. This paper will demonstrate that evidence for this lies in many historical buildings, which have withstood earthquakes throughout the hundreds of years without having been reinforced with special material. The fact is that the master builder or Mimar (traditional architect) of historic buildings was simultaneously designing the architecture as well as choosing the suitable form, proportion, and material for the best structural performance.

The Experience of numerous earthquakes and the extent of damage they have caused together with the steps taken to reduce their impact have all shown that such steps have often been limited to structural engineering issues and the strengthening of buildings against earthquakes. Although such strategies have resulted in improving the endurance of buildings and reducing the number of casualties, their increasing costs and other factors have prevented them from being completely satisfactory for the people involved.The design of buildings is an extensive process which begins with the general goals and strategies, which manifest themselves as holistic designs concepts and regulations that govern the framework of design and the requirements for the resistance of buildings against earthquakes. In this design process, the architect determines form and configuration of the building which has the most influence on the building' s performance against earthquakes.Research on the construction industry, specifically architectural design have shown that Iran's Office of Technical Affairs and their regulatory codes and guidelines suffer from the following problems: 1. lack of holistic regulatory codes, or the presence of contradictory or unproductive documents, specifically in the field of architectural design, 2. reliance on prescriptive codes that act against creativity in architectural design A study on the essence and the progression of regulatory codes for earthquake design suggests that PBSD (performance based seismic design) and its related body of research is more in tune with the nature of architectural design and is more capable of answering the socio-economic needs of the people involved.In contrast to prescriptive methods of the past or those that are in operation now, performance based seismic design is more in tune with architectural design because: first, both (architectural design and PBSD) require a process that begins with the definition of goals and ends with an assessment of a design proposals. Second, both processes are capable of repetition until the proposed design manages to achieve the goals set out at the beginning. Third point of similarity is that in both processes, stockholders as same as other organizations are considered an important benefiting party and are given an important role in each process. Performance based seismic design is defined by choosing criteria that are inspired by a few performance goals. Each of these goals in turn defines the problems that arise from a particular level of destruction while also relating these levels of destruction to the different levels of earthquake risk.In this regard, the paper aims to carry out the following tasks and displays their results: 1. Identifying the similarities between performances based seismic design and architectural design.2. Introducing different methods for generating documents (regulatory codes and criteria) for PBSD in architecture 3. Elucidate the role of architects in preparing such regulatory codes and criteria 4. Forecasting the future of regulatory codes of architectural seismic design and its relevant research 5. Presenting a practical proposal for an evaluative methodology for reducing the vulnerability of buildings against earthquakes and formulating the techniques and guidelines necessary for architectural design.

The design of facilities to resist seismic loads requires selection of an appropriate safety level. This paper will discuss the requirements of different international standards and will suggest that the criteria might be established on the basis of a quantitative risk analysis. The paper will, furthermore, discuss the experience oil companies have gained through working in Norway and North Western Europe in designing facilities to withstand the relevant seismic loads. Although this area of the world is an intraplate area with relatively low seismicity, it is suggested that the experience gained in using risk based seismic design criteria and quantitative risk analysis could be of value to those working in more seismic regions of the world. The paper will mainly refer to onshore terminal facilities on the Western Coast of Norway, which is the area of the North Western Europe with highest seismic hazard, and to offshore platforms in the Northern North Sea. Finally, the paper will present considerations related to upgrading of existing facilities with particular emphasis on facilities in the oil and gas industry

The design of earthquake-resistant buildings starts with defining the maximum lateral earthquake forces or their resultant. The amount of these forces depends on various factors, including coefficient of system behavior which depends on over strength and its ductility. In this study, a method is proposed in order to design an earthquake-resistant system in which the distribution of lateral forces is adjusted based on equal distribution of the seismic demand ratio in structural elements for the optimum use of seismic capability of the structure. To this end, three types of 4-, 7-, and 10-story structures are Applied. Firstly, the above-mentioned structures are designed based on gravity loads and consequently analyzed based on linear and nonlinear dynamic analyses, applying the accelerograms of some major earthquakes. Pursuant to that, the average loading ratio to the allowed capacity of the elements of each story in linear analysis and the average ratios of plastic rotations to the allowed capacity of elements in nonlinear analysis are applied as the modified shear ratio in the Iranian National seismic Code. On that account, the new lateral loading distribution is measured and identified. Based on this new distribution, the above-mentioned structures are designed and their seismic behaviors are identified, applying linear and nonlinear dynamic analyses of the same accelerograms. The findings indicate an ameliorated seismic behavior of the beams and the columns. Moreover, the distribution of the seismic demand ratios attains more uniformity along the height of the structures.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic design methods of the retaining walls. seismic behavior of the retaining walls for dynamic loads, seismic design and stability of these structures during the earthquake were studied by studying retaining wall design methods. The overall lateral pressures during earthquake vibrations are the static pressures that occur before the earthquake and the dynamic pressures generated by the earthquake, and the wall response is affected by both pressures. The results of this study show that if there is a possibility of sliding, rotating, or deforming to a sufficient degree to be able to mobilize the active soil pressure, the dynamic wall pressures will be applied via static or semi-static Mononobe-Okabe methods. In case of impermeability of the retaining walls (fixed walls), elastic analysis is also performed, and the most common dynamic analysis methods include the Mononobe-Okabe semi-static method, the Steedman-Zeng method, the Wood method and the Westergaard method, which can be developed.