Thank you for your interest.
There are at least three loads for which performance based design is being examined in detail. Seismic is perhaps the most established, with wind and now fire response following in step. But it really isn't the load source or site location that determines the merits of design according to performance. Performance based design could be used legitimately for any structure for all loads, with the benefit being 1) a better understanding of the actual performance expectations, 2) more flexibility to address multiple and potentially competing performance goals, 3) greater efficiency in the selection and use of materials, and 4) potentially even lower total cost in most cases. These benefits and others need to be demonstrated through study and practice, and such efforts are underway.
That said, it is not obvious that performance based design would be the best approach for all structures. I can imagine that design phases for time-critical routine projects could be shorter following conventional design than for performance based design. In fact, the profession is nearing a state of automated design for such structures. Performance based design might also entail peer reviews and more intensive code compliance assessments than are needed now for conventional design. At the same time, the overall savings for routine structures might not justify the pursuit. But it depends on what you value.
I expect that performance based design will be used first for structures that show clear promise for benefit, and these (and large bridges) might be the ones you list. However, as the construction industry's familiarity with the process increases and building codes become more progressive, we are likely to witness the threshold for structures that would receive net benefit lowering.
On your second question, we are pursuing performance based design for seismic and fire exposures. I anticipate that the frequency with which we engage in performance based design will increase substantially in the next few years.
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Donald Dusenberry F.SEI, F.ASCE
Consulting Principal
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
Waltham MA
(781) 907-9237
dodusenberry@...------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 03-24-2019 15:36
From: Stephanie Slocum
Subject: What do you think about performance-based structural design?
As I was binge-reading the pile of recent structural engineering magazines on my desk this afternoon, a number of articles about performance-based structural engineering attracted my attention:
1. Article 1 (Feb 2019 Structure magazine): Performance-based design is the future
2. Article 2 (March 2019 Structure Magazine): How performance-based design will shape our future
3. Article 3 (March 2019 Structure Magazine): The Story of a Survivor (which is an excellent example of what performance-based design can do.)
I understand the value of performance-based design in areas of high-seismic and wind, as well as for "high importance" structures. Article 1 above makes the point that "Performance-based design approaches are not needed for most structures." This led me the following questions for which I'd like your input. ( @Donald Dusenberry @John Dal Pino @Anne Ellis Thank <g class="gr_ gr_5084 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="5084" data-gr-id="5084">you</g> writing the above listed articles!)
1. What do you think the future of performance-based design will be for buildings that are not in high-seismic and high-wind <g class="gr_ gr_3643 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="3643" data-gr-id="3643">areas,</g> and don't serve a critical function (i.e. the vast majority of buildings built, at least in the USA)?
2. Are you seeing high-performance design gaining traction in your projects, and if so please share the (general) types of projects and locations, especially if they are NOT in high-wind, high-seismic areas. (I want to better understand the current state of the industry.)
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Stephanie Slocum P.E.
Founder & CEO
Engineers Rising LLC
www.engineersrising.com
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