Elastic design charts of stiffened coupled structural walls

Design charts are presented for the design of a stiffened coupled structural wall with a strong beam located somewhere along the building height. The analysis is based on a continuous medium approach with the deflection at the top. The couple due to the axial force in the walls and the shear force in the laminae are presented in the form of graphs. The variations of the couple due to the axial force in the walls and the laminar shear along the structural height are also presented to permit the curtailment of reinforcements where appropriate for achieving economy. The results are given in terms of two dimensionless structural parameters: one is the relative flexural rigidity of the strong beam, and the other is a measure of the effectiveness of the lintel beams. The application of the design charts is illustrated by determining the deflections and the internal forces of a typical 20-story building.