Vulnerability of buildings to seismic hazards is more drastic in developing

countries with high seismicity, as compared to developed countries. This is

primarily due to the lack of seismic design guidelines, which fit the type of
structural systems and practices that are often applied in such parts of the world.
Response reduction factor (R) is essential seismic design tool, which are typically
used to describe the level of inelasticity expected in lateral structural systems
during an earthquake. The concept of R factor is based on the observations that
well detailed seismic framing systems can sustain large inelastic deformations
without collapse through excess of lateral strength over design strength and
ductility. This factor allows a designer to use a linear elastic force based design
while accounting for nonlinear behaviour and deformation limits.
The Response reduction factors adopting in many developing countries like United
States and Europe are realistic values and based on technical basis. They are using
this R factor with component wise like over strength factor and redundancy factor
and also they are accounting for irregularity by reducing this factor. The values of
response reduction factors given in IS 1893 (Part-II) 2002, which is arrived at
empirically based on engineering judgment and perceived earthquake damage
with little technical basis and also does not explicitly segregate the components of
R in terms of ductility and overstrength. It does not specify any reduction in the
response reduction factor on account of any irregularity (vertical or planirregularity) in the framing system. The objective of this work is to evaluate the
component wise computation of response reduction factor (R) for Reinforced
concrete buildings using nonlinear pushover analysis. Also to find effect of seismic
zone, regularity, number stories and soil flexibility on R factor.

in many developing countries are often adopted from the well developed seismic
design codes used in the United States or Europe. These R factors provide false
representation for the structural practices applied in developing countries and thus
considered unrealistic. So there is a dire need to come up with realistic R factors for
various structural systems used in such countries. This study utilizes incremental
dynamic analysis (IDA) and peak ground parameters to determine the R factor of
reinforced concrete (RC) moment resisting frames (MRFs) in Pakistan.
Most seismic design codes today include the nonlinear response of a structure
implicitly through a response reduction/modification factor (R). This factor allows a
designer to use a linear elastic forcebased design while accounting for nonlinear
behaviour and deformation limits. This research focuses on estimating the actual
values of this factor for realistic RC moment frame buildings designed and detailed
following the Indian standards for seismic and RC designs and for ductile detailing,
and comparing these values with the value suggested in the design code. The
primary emphases are in a component-wise computation of R, the consideration of
performance-based limits at both member and structure levels, a detailed modelling
of the RC section behaviour, and the effects of various analysis and design
considerations on R. Values of R are obtained for four realistic designs at two
performance levels. The results show that the Indian standard recommends a higher
than actual value of R, which is potentially dangerous. This paper also provides
other significant conclusions and the limitations of this study.