The ATC-55 project is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its purpose is to evaluate and improve the application of inelastic analysis procedures used in state-of-the-art performance-based engineering methods for seismic design, evaluation, and rehabilitation of buildings.
Phase 1 of the project, which involved data collection efforts to obtain relevant information from researchers and practicing engineers and to identify and define relevant issues to be considered in later phases of the project, commenced in September 2000 and was completed in November 2001. Phase II, which consisted of analytical studies to explore selected key issues and the establishment of focus groups to explore and discuss important project-related topics, commenced in December 2001 and was completed in 2003. The focus of Phase III, which is scheduled to be completed in March 2005, is the preparation and publication of the final project report, Improvement of Nonlinear Static Seismic Analysis Procedures (FEMA 440 Report). The final project report will include: (1) guidelines for improved application of the Coefficient Method, as detailed in the FEMA-273 and FEMA-274 Guidelines and Commentary for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings, (2) guidelines for improved application of the Capacity Spectrum Method, as detailed in the ATC-40 Report, Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of Concrete Buildings, and (3) other related guidance of interest to design practitioners and researchers. Under Phase III, ATC will also conduct a series of three training seminars to advise practicing structural engineering professionals on the guidance developed under the ATC-55 project. Seminars are planned for Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
ATC has posted a draft camera-ready copy of the FEMA 440 report on this web site for review and comment by interested practicing structural engineering professionals and researchers. To be considered, comments must be either faxed to ATC (650/593-2320) using the FAX version of the Comment form, or e-mailed using the Microsoft Word version, by Monday, December 20, 2004. An example of a partially-completed form in PDF format may be downloaded here. We request that any comments over 100 words be e-mailed in electronic form. All e-mails should be sent to schwartzbach@atcouncil.org and should have the following in the subject line: FEMA 440 Comments. Due to budgetary and scheduling constraints, ATC will not be able to provide responses to comments received; rather persons who submit comments will need to check the published document to determine if and how their comments have been handled. The FEMA 440 report, along with the other project products, may be downloaded from the following list as PDF files:
