New seismic design and evaluation criteria for the Department of Energy

Seismic design and evaluation criteria are based on probabilistic performance goals for Department of Energy (DOE) facilities across the United States. These criteria, utilize probabilistic seismic hazard curves for specification of earthquake loading combined with deterministic response evaluation methods and permissible behavior limits. Through the use of such a design/evaluation approach, it may be demonstrated that there is high likelihood that probabilistic performance goals can be achieved. These criteria have been described in previous technical papers. The purpose of this paper is to present proposed modifications to DOE seismic design and evaluation criteria. These modifications account for various slopes of seismic hazard curves, make corrections to earlier versions, and take advantage of an improved quantitative basis for the acceptance criteria.