Effect of shear wall height on earthquake response

A general method, based on the transfer matrix technique and structural modeling using wall elements, is proposed for the prediction of the effect of shear wall height on earthquake response of frame-shear wall structures. The method developed allows stepped variation of geometric and material properties with the height of the structures. The method is numerically implemented and applied to the evaluation of the natural frequencies, the shears at floor level and the maximum displacement's responses of the structures. Good agreement of its predictions with experimental results confirms its accuracy and efficiency. Further comparisons with previously obtained numerical results lead to an assessment of the effect of shear wall height on earthquake response. The present numerical analysis shows that it is not necessary to extend the shear wall over the entire height of the structure for some frame-wall structures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.