On Categorization of Seismic Load As Primary or Secondary
The concept of primary/secondary categorization is first recalled and generalized for its application to an elastic-plastic oscillator subjected to a seismic load. Categorizing the seismic load requires calculating the input level associated to the oscillator ultimate capacity and compare it to the level associated to the plastic yield. In order to resolve this non-linear dynamic problem, it is assumed that the non-linear oscillator behaves like a linear equivalent oscillator, with an effective stiffness (or frequency) and an effective damping. However, as it is not a priori possible to predict the equivalent stiffness and damping, a wide range of possibilities is systematically considered. The input motion is represented by its conventional response spectrum. It turns out that key parameters for categorization are i) the “effective stiffness factor” (varying from 0 for perfect damage behaviour to 1 for elastic-perfectly plastic) and the slope of the response spectrum in the vicinity of the natural frequency of the oscillator. Effective damping and spectrum sensitivity to damping play a second order role. A formula is presented that enables to calculate the primary part of a seismically induced stress as a function of both the oscillator and input spectrum features. The formula is also presented in the form of an abacus. The actual “effective stiffness factor” of different piping systems is derived from outputs of experimental research programs carried out in the past in USA and Japan and still ongoing in India. It appears that even when experiencing large plastic strains under beyond design input motions, the observed effective frequency of piping systems is very close to their natural frequency, decreasing only by a few percents. These observations enable to calculate an effective stiffness factor value around 0.9 and lead to the conclusion that the seismic load, or the seismically induced inertial seismic strains, should basically be regarded as secondary in the sense of the definition adopted here.