Performance-Based Structural Design

Assessing when to go beyond prescribed building codes

Modern building codes are written to help structures withstand extreme loads like earthquakes and windstorms, but the amount of damage a building sustains depends on the quality of the design and the criteria the building is designed to meet. Exponent's structural failure investigations over the past 50 years reveal that many buildings are designed to conform to minimum requirements prescribed by building codes and standards but often do not meet expectations.

Performance-based design requires the designer to go beyond code prescriptions and accurately predict how a structure will respond to its environment, often during extreme events. Making these predictions typically requires sophisticated structural analysis and advanced software and laboratory testing to determine damage mechanisms and thresholds. With cutting-edge tools, Exponent's multidisciplinary team of engineers predicts the performance of complex structural systems under extreme conditions like earthquakes and hurricanes.

services

For 50+ years, we’ve thrived on solving unstructured problems that require bespoke solutions. Some of our services include:

• Advanced structural analysis, including computer simulations incorporating geometric and material nonlinearities

• Peer review of building designs in areas of high seismic or hurricane hazard

• Peer review of special structures and equipment (e.g., in nuclear facilities and automated storage systems)

Our Capabilities Are Unparalleled

With expertise in over 90 disciplines and hundreds of capabilities, tools, and methodologies — we get to the root of even the most complex challenges and give you the objective answers you need.

Consultants analyze data on laptop screen. Exponent engineers perform quantitative risk assessment for buildings and structures.

Experts

Our global and comprehensive expertise across industries gives us a deep understanding of current challenges, best industry practices, and the implications of emerging technologies.