Pushover is a static-nonlinear analysis method where a structure is subjected to
gravity loading and a monotonic displacement-controlled lateral load pattern which continuously increases through elastic and inelastic behavior until an ultimate condition is reached. Difference between Pushover analysis and response spectrum analysis? Pushover analysis is the common name of a type of procedures that uses simplified nonlinear static analysis. A modal response spectrum analysis is a dynamic linear analysis. Modal response spectrum analysis is more suitable for problems involving the structural design of new structures, while pushover analysis is more indicated for assessing the seismic vulnerability of existing structures. There are many pushover analysis procedures. The most popular are the ATC40 capacity spectrum method (as an example, see the following paper: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350630714003732), the displacement coefficient method (FEMA273), and the N2 method (Eurocode 8)