• Traditionally, earthquake-resistant design has been strength-based, using linear elastic analysis.
• Since inelastic behavior is usually allowed for strong earthquakes, this is not entirely rational.
• Strength-based design considers inelastic behavior only implicitly.
• Displacement-based (or deformation-based) design considers inelastic behavior explicitly, using nonlinear inelastic analysis.
• Displacement-based design recognizes that in a strong earthquake, inelastic deformation (or ductility) can be more important than strength.
• PERFORM-3D allows you to use displacement-based design.

• Procedures for displacement-based design using inelastic analysis are specified in ASCE 41, ”Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings”.
• ASCE 41 applies to the retrofit of existing buildings, but the procedures can be applied to the design of new buildings.
• PERFORM-3D implements the procedures in ASCE 41.
• However, PERFORM-3D is a general tool for implementing displacement-based design. It is not limited to ASCE 41.

• The response of a structure to earthquake ground motion, whether elastic or inelastic, is highly uncertain.
• Capacity design is a rational way to improve the response of a structure in a strong earthquake, by deliberately controlling its behavior.
• Capacity design controls the inelastic behavior of a structure, by allowing inelastic behavior only in locations chosen by the designer. In these locations the structural components are designed to be ductile. The rest of the structure remains essentially elastic, and can be less ductile.
• Controlling the behavior in this way improves reliability, reduces the amount of damage, and can reduce construction costs.
• PERFORM-3D allows you to apply capacity design principles.

• - PERFORM-3D has powerful capabilities for inelastic analysis, but it is not intended for general purpose nonlinear analysis.
• If you have no idea how your structure will behave when it becomes inelastic in a strong earthquake, PERFORM-3D can probably help you to identify the weak points, and hence can guide you in improving the design.
• However, PERFORM-3D is not intended for ”design by analysis”, where the engineer expects the analysis to determine exactly how a structure will behave.  
• PERFORM-3D is a powerful tool for implementing displacement-based design and capacity design. It will help you to produce better designs, but it will not do the engineering for you.

• Cantilever Retaining Walls: Design of a retaining wall supported only at the base under the combination of earth pressure, surcharge, wind and seismic loads. The module designs the wall per the load combinations of the ASCE 7.
• Restrained Retaining Walls: Design of a retaining wall supported at the base and laterally restrained at the top, also known as a basement wall, under the combination of earth pressure, surcharge, wind and seismic loads. The module designs the wall per the load combinations of the ASCE 7.

• Spread Footings: Design of a concrete spread footing under the action of vertical load, horizontal load and biaxial bending. This module designs the footing per the load combinations of the ASCE 7.
• Strap Footings: Design of a concrete strap footing under the action of vertical loads, horizontal loads and bending moments. This module designs the two footings and the strap beam per the load combinations of the ASCE 7.
• Combined Footings: Design of a concrete combined footing under the action of vertical loads, horizontal loads and bending moments. This module designs the combined footing per the load combinations of the ASCE 7.

• Concrete Columns: design of a concrete column under the action of axial loads and bending moments. This module calculates the magnified moments for slenderness of ASCE 7 load combinations, and generates the column strength interaction diagram.
• Concrete Beams: design of a concrete muti-span continuous beam under the action of uniform and concentrated loads. This module accurately calculate the bending and shear strength for different types of beams. Load combinations per ASCE 7.
• Bearing Walls: design of a concrete wall under the action of vertical and out-of-plane lateral loads. This module calculates the magnified moments for slenderness of ASCE 7 load combinations, and generates the wall strength interaction diagram.

Concise Beam is a complex and yet easy to use CAD application that enables users to design and analyze precast concrete beams. The application performs its tasks in accordance to ACI 318, CSAA23.3 and AS3600 codes. Users can model cross-sections to meet their demands as well as create prismatic variations over the length of the beam. Using Concise Beam you can choose from multiple beam layouts such as simply supported beams, cantilevers, load distribution and cast-in-place pours.