On the Applicability of Conventional Seismic Design Methodologies to Hybrid RC‐Steel Systems

This paper analyses the adequacy of the q‐factor approach when applied to hybrid RC‐steel systems. This approach is prescribed by EC8‐1 as the basic design method, and usually referred to as the most conservative. However, due to its simplicity and popularity for the design of new structures, practitioners are more likely to resort to it, than to the more complex nonlinear static and dynamic procedures, when dealing with the seismic assessment and strengthening of existing RC buildings. A case‐study application is thus presented to analyse and discuss the difficulties a practitioner will face when assessing the efficiency of a steel‐brace retrofitting system designed within the framework of EC8‐1.