Investigation of the Dynamic Behavior of Coupled Shear Wall Systems

Coupled shear walls are vertical shear walls or elevator cores with openings connected

together by beams or slabs. In the present work, the behavior of the reinforced concrete coupled

elevator cores of multistory building has been investigated under the seismic loads. The system

consists of two U-shaped in the plan monolithic walls, connected at slab levels by beams. Seismic

loads were determined according to the International Building Code, IBC-2015. The elastic

analysis of the models, was carried out using finite element method (FEM) and the results were

compared with the results obtained using the closed form solution (analytical method). Results

show that the rigidity of coupling beams has significant effect on the dynamic behavior of the

coupled wall system. The presence of connecting beams and the increase of their rigidity resulted

in valuable decrease in the period of vibration and deformations of the coupled wall system in all

models. Shear stresses in the cross sections of the connecting beams were calculated in accordance

to the American ACI Code and Eurocode. It was observed that in some beams it is possible to use

only the minimum required reinforcements, whereas in the majority of the cases, designed shear

reinforcement must be provided for the connecting beams.

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