Evaluation of lateral stiffness of steel structures having different types of lateral load- resisting systems

In this paper, the evaluation of the elastic lateral stiffness factor (ELSF) of steel frames for different lateral load-resisting systems (LLRSs) is presented. First, 720 steel structural frame models have been analyzed and designed using the equivalent lateral force method. Then by using pushover analysis method, all models have been analyzed, compared and evaluated. Finally, the effects of a number of influenced parameters such as different types of LLRSs, span length, number of stories, number of spans as well as story height of the buildings on the lateral stiffness are assessed and by applying regression analysis some useful equations were submitted. Based on the results obtained for steel frames having different LLRSs, compared to ordinary moment-resisting frames (OMRFs) as a base (having ELSF of 1), the normalized average ELSFs of K-eccentrically braced-frames (K-EBFs), V-, Z-, inverted V-, X-braced-frames, shear walls with thickness of 25 cm (SW25) and shear walls with thickness of 30 cm (SW30) are about 2.2, 6, 7, 9, 11, 95, 155, respectively. Among the braced-frames, X-braced-frames have the maximum ELSF, about 10 times more than OMRF, while OMRFs provide the minimum ELSFs among all LLRSs, and the frames supported by shear walls have ELSFs about 100 to 150 times more than OMRFs.