This paper presents a new procedure to transform an SSI system into an equivalent SDOF system using twice equivalence. A pushover analysis procedure based on the capacity spectrum method for buildings with SSI effects (PASSI) is then established based on the equivalent SDOF system, and the modified response spectrum and equivalent capacity spectrum are obtained. Furthermore, the approximate formulas to obtain the dynamic stiffness of foundations are suggested. Three steel buildings with different story heights (3, 9 and 20) including SSI effects are analyzed under two far-field and two near-field historical records and an artificial seismic time history using the two PASSI procedures and the nonlinear response history analysis (NL-RHA) method. The results are compared and discussed. Finally, combined with seismic design response spectrum, the nonlinear seismic response of a 9-story building with SSI effects is analyzed using the PASSI procedures, and its seismic performance is evaluated according to the Chinese ‘Code for Seismic Design of Buildings.’ The feasibility of the proposed procedure is verified.
