An analytical study was performed to investigate the effects of joint panel zone flexibility and P-Delta on the response of steel moment resisting frames to selected earthquakes motions. Two different model structures were chosen to represent both the lower and upper limits for medium-rise buildings, eight stories and sixteen story frames. The joint panel zones for each model were designed and detailed for two different design criteria, the Uniform Building Code and the Egyptian Code. Static elastic and inelastic analyses were conducted for both models to estimate the effects of joint flexibility and P-Delta effects on the stiffness of frames, as well as the strength and plastic hinging progress up to collapse. In addition, dynamic analyses were conducted by subjecting the models to four different earthquake records. The four records were chosen to cover a wide spectrum of frequencies. An evaluation of the frames seismic response in terms of story shears, story drift and plastic hinging patterns was carried out. The study demonstrated the significance and importance of considering the combined effects of both the joint panel zone flexibility and P-b during studying the seismic response of medium-rise frames. Also, it showed that by neglecting these effects the lateral deformation of the frames may be underestimated by up to 60%, depending on the type of structure and load considerations.

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