Effective Stiffness in Seismic Design

This lecture discusses the challenges of force-based design in seismic engineering, focusing on the estimation of effective stiffness in reinforced concrete members. It explains how the stiffness of a member is dependent on its strength, impacting seismic performance. The lecture also covers the estimation of yield curvature and the implications for force-based design. Various examples illustrate the consequences of force-based design assumptions, such as the distribution of horizontal forces in structures. The importance of accurate stiffness estimation for seismic analysis is emphasized, highlighting the need for a better understanding of the relationship between strength and stiffness in structural design.