Identification of the modal properties of the UCLA Factor Building, a 15-story steel moment-resisting frame, is performed using low-amplitude earthquake and ambient vibration data. The numerical algorithm for subspace state-space system identification is employed to identify the structural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes corresponding to the first nine modes. The frequencies and mode shapes identified based on the data recorded during the 2004 Parkfield earthquake ͑M w = 6.0͒ are used to update a threedimensional finite element model of the building to improve correlation between analytical and identified modal properties and responses. A linear dynamic analysis of the updated model excited by the 1994 Northridge earthquake is performed to assess the likelihood of structural damage.

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The nees@UCLA mobile field laboratory was utilized to collect forced and ambient vibration data from a four-story reinforced concrete (RC) building damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Both low amplitude broadband and moderate amplitude harmonic excitation were applied using a linear shaker and two eccentric mass shakers, respectively. Floor accelerations, interstory displacements, and column and slab curvature distributions were monitored during the tests using accelerometers, linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) and concrete strain gauges. The use of dense instrumentation enabled verification of common modeling assumptions related to rigid diaphragms and soil-structure-interaction. The first six or seven natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios were identified. Significant decreases in frequency corresponded to increases in shaking amplitude, most notably in the N-S direction of the building, most likely due to preexisting diagonal joint cracks that formed during the Northridge earthquake.

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