Design codes recognize the ability of some structures to undergo significant inelastic deformation during a seismic event without reaching the point of collapse. In consideration of this behaviour, building codes provide force modification factors (R-values) to determine the reduced lateral loads that engineers may use in design. This paper presents an overview of the seismic requirements for various design standards and an explanation of how R-values may be determined from test results. The findings of an evaluation of existing steel stud shear wall test data, in addition to preliminary force modification factors for use in seismic design, are presented.
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