Revision of Eurocode 8: Features Common to All Materials

The revision of Eurocode 8 is under way. The paper summarizes aspects of the revised rules common to all materials, like new format for the seismic action, enlarged sections on pushover analysis and the redefinition of the ductility classes with limits of applicability in terms of seismic action per structural systems and materials fitting better with the real seismic capacity of each structural type. The range of application of the former lower class DCL is increased for some systems while a class DC2 intermediate between the former DCL and DCM is introduced for more economical design. The revision improves the structural logic of requirements, taking for instance into consideration the force amplification in columns which exists after formation of a first plastic zone.