Dynamic Evaluation of Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings Using the Pushover (Nonlinear Static) Method

Abstract

The pushover (nonlinear static) analysis has become a widely adopted tool for the seismic evaluation of both existing and new reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Public RC buildings in Libya, many of which were constructed over the past two to three decades, may now be seismically deficient because design code requirements have been progressively updated. In this study, the pushover method is applied to a simple framed RC structure and to an existing RC building in Libya, with the aim of tracking hinge deformation, identifying failure modes, and locating the global performance point. The analysis is carried out using the well-known SAP2000 software package. Modelling the complex nonlinear behaviour of RC buildings analytically remains a challenging task; consequently, engineers have historically relied on empirical formulas derived from extensive experimental programmes. With recent advances in structural analysis software and computational capacity, nonlinear analysis, including three-dimensional modelling, has become an indispensable tool for structural assessment (Maulana et al., 2025). The pushover method offers a relatively simple means of evaluating the present state of existing buildings and of assessing whether newly designed but not-yet-constructed buildings can resist extreme earthquake and wind loads. Where the results indicate that a building cannot withstand such loads without unacceptable damage, the pushover analysis provides the information needed to decide on appropriate remedial measures (Guettala et al., 2025).