Lateral Load Analyses of Multi-storeyed Frames with and Without Shear Walls

Abstract

Multi-storeyed buildings are popping up more and more in India due to its ever-growing need for accommodation as opposed to its subsequent lack of land area. It is a known fact that as the height of the structure increases, lateral loads become a crucial part of the design. Shear walls are among one of the most common, cheap and effective methods by which lateral loads are resisted. In this paper, a study is made on multi-storeyed buildings of a symmetric plan with shear walls provided at multiple locations across the plan. The total length and thickness of walls were kept constant throughout all cases. Straight walls and L-shaped R.C.C. walls were made use of. Linear static, linear dynamic and non-linear static analyses were performed. Comparisons were made based on roof-level displacement, drift, stiffness of structure and ductility to find the best-performing configuration.