Loading protocols for structures designed for different behaviour factors

All the existing loading protocols have been developed independently of the value of the behaviour factor q that the structure has been designed for. Conservatively, a single loading protocol is adopted, for all q values, based on the structural system with the most onerous cumulative seismic demands. However, analyses conducted by the authors, show that imposed cumulative seismic demands decrease significantly for structures designed for high behaviour factors. This drives to the conclusion that adopting a single loading protocol for the most demanding q value may lead to the derivation of highly conservative loading protocols for the rest of the structural systems. In this paper, new loading protocols will be developed for structures designed for different behaviour factors.