Dynamic shear force amplification in regular frame-wall systems

Abstract

A parametric study is conducted to investigate the dynamic shear amplification factor (DAF) in low-to-mid-rise frame-wall systems in which the reinforcement curtailment along the height matches the required code strength. The level of frame-wall interaction is varied by changing the wall index, defined as the ratio of the total wall area to the floor plan area, in a generic frame-wall system, and its correlation with the DAF is investigated. Wall index values ranging in the 0.2% to 2% interval are selected. Walls with lengths of 3m, 5m and 8m are used in the design of model buildings of 4, 8 and 12 stories. Shear-flexure beam continuum formulation is used in design and modeling. The global behavior is analyzed using nonlinear response history procedure using spectrum compatible ground motions. It is found that the primary source of amplification is the level of inelastic demand on the system. Walls designed for code-specified force reduction factor R=6 experienced an average base shear force amplification in the order of 1.64 with standard deviation of 0.19 with respect to design shear force. Amplification diminishes with decreasing R. An expression for the dynamic amplification factor as a function of the number of stories and force reduction factor R is proposed. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.