The pushover analysis add-on enables you to analyze the deformation behavior of buildings and compare them with the effects of earthquakes. In this way, it is possible to assess how an earthquake will affect the model and what deformations or damage are to be expected. In this analysis, the pushover curve is determined taking into account the nonlinear structural properties of the building. This curve expresses the model's ability to withstand side loads. It is therefore also known as the capacity curve. The corresponding seismic response spectrum, on the other hand, represents the seismic demand and is therefore also referred to as the demand curve.
To determine the capacity curve, a horizontal load distributed over the height is applied to the structure and gradually increased until the specified limit criterion is reached. The pushover analysis aims to determine the maximum nonlinear response of the model to seismic loads. This maximum is present in the largest displacement of a control node. Based on this value, the position and the plastic limit state of the hinges is determined and the displacement between the floors is checked.
The capacity curve is then compared to an action. For seismic effects, the libraries of the add-on Response Spectrum Method can be accessed (license required). The comparison is carried out according to the procedure specified in Eurocode 8 (N2 method) to determine the target shift. This target shift occurs at the point at which the desired maximum response shows a balance between the structural capacity and the seismic requirement - the so-called "performance point".
A summary of the functional scope can be found in the product description Pushover analysis for RFEM 6/RSTAB 9 .