AbstractThis paper compares the seismic force reduction factors used in the United States and Japan. Since these factors appear in a very different format in the two countries, for comparison purposes, a general expression relating the force reduction factor to the structural ductility and overstrength factors is first established. This study shows that (i) the seismic design limit state philosophy applied to moderate and severe earthquakes is treated differently in each country; (ii) the Japanese code requires the designer to check explicitly the serviceability limit state, while the American codes do not require the member's strength be checked for the serviceability limit state; (iii) the force reduction factors used in Japan for the ultimate limit state check are significantly smaller than those used in the United States, and (iv) the force reduction factors used in Japan are even smaller if structural overstrength is not explicitly checked by designers.
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