Analysis of Northridge Damaged Thirteen‐Story WSMF Building

The case study building experienced moment connection fractures and has instructure recorded response. Correlative analyses are performed using a probability approach to describe the connection rotational capacities. The Northridge calibrated model is then subjected to other scenario earthquake records. The main points include: ‐Northridge connection damage can be reasonably simulated using models that idealize the rotation capacities as random variables, ‐Many of the connection fractures occurred from beam moment demands that were less than the beam yield moments, ‐Vertical earthquake excitation and gravity loads did not play a major role in the connection fractures, ‐The damaged building can withstand another Northridge intensity quake, ‐Near‐source ground motions from great quakes have the potential to collapse the building with pre‐Northridge type connection details, and ‐Connection rotation capacity can make the difference between building survival or collapse during severe quakes.