The seismic behavior of asymmetric structures with a flexible diaphragmwas studied by conducting inelastic dynamic time-history\nanalyses. Asymmetric structures with different configurations of mass, stiffness, and strength centers, in combination with a wide\nrange of diaphragm flexibility, were evaluated. The behavior of structures was studied by considering three aspects: (1) effect of\nstructural asymmetry on diaphragms deformation; (2) effect of diaphragm flexibility on demands of the lateral load-resisting\nelements; (3) optimum configuration of mass, stiffness, and strength centers to limit important engineering demand parameters\nin asymmetric structures with a flexible diaphragm. The results showed that the shear-dominant deformation of diaphragms is\nsensitive to both structure asymmetry specifications and the degree of diaphragm flexibility; therefore, it can be used for the\nqualitative classification of the seismic behavior of structures. Also, the center of strength in structures with flexible diaphragm\nis more important relative to the stiffness center and has a significant effect on engineering demands at all levels of diaphragm\nflexibility. Moreover, it was found that a suitable configuration of centers in torsionally stiff structures depends on the degree of\ndiaphragm flexibility, in addition to the intensity of earthquakes (structure yield level) and selected engineering demand parameter.
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