Seismic assessment based on drift considerations

This paper aims at introducing the method of seismic assessment based on the considerations of drift. This alternative procedure represents a departure from the conventional approach in which seismic actions are represented by the seismically induced inertial forces. This driftbased method has the benefit of simplicity as it can be carried out without necessarily involving lengthy computational analysis of the structure. The paper contains a review of both the conventional procedure and recent research literature in support of the alternative procedure, and it concludes with the worked example of a building structure. The presented new method should be of interests to practising engineers who are involved in the seismic assessment of existing (non-code compliant) building or in the design of new buildings in Australia.