ABSTRACT
In order to compare seismic performances between steel frames with high strength steel columns and ordinary strength steel columns, three models were designed which met the requirement of ultimate limit states and serviceability limit states. It was an 8-story project and the columns were optimized. Nonlinear Pushover analysis was conducted to all designs. The bearing capacity, ductility and distribution of plastic hinges under the rare earthquake among the models were compared. The results indicate that the bearing capacity of all the steel frames was almost the same while the ductility of the steel frame with high strength steel columns is the worst under the same design conditions. The steel frame with both high strength steel columns and ordinary strength steel columns owned good ductility and the steel weight of the structure is 2.8% lower than that of the steel frame with ordinary strength steel columns.
