LATERAL STIFFNESS OF SHEAR WALLS WITH OPENINGS

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the suitability of various methods of estimating the stiffness of laterally loaded multi-storey shear walls with regard to the size and disposition of openings. It discusses the factors that can affect the stiffness. Comparison is made with the results of tests on aluminum models and the effect of variation in the size of single row openings is investigated. The investigation is part of a study of the behavior under wind loading of cross wall structures. The shear walls would have the same height and width but not necessarily the same pattern of openings. This is a popular form for dwelling house blocks of up to 30 storeys. There are two main steps in the analysis of such structures under lateral wind loading: (1) the total wind load is distributed to the separate walls in proportion to their stiffness and (2) the stresses in the walls because of this loading are estimated.