| The dynamic inelastic response of coupled walls subjected to earthquake excitations was investigated. A parametric investigation was conducted on the effects of selected structural and ground motion parameters. A design procedure and sample design aids were developed for earthquake resistant coupled walls, on the basis of nonlinear dynamic analysis.; Detailed features of the force-deformation hystersis loops were examined. Improved modeling capabilities were introduced into the computer program used for the analysis. Axial force-flexure interaction effects were introduced to the moment-rotation hysteresis loop. The effect of axial force on the dynamic response of coupled walls was found to be very significant. The significance of other modeling features was investigated. Specifically, post-yield stiffness, strength decay under cyclic loading, reloading and unloading stiffnesses, and pinching in hystersis loop were considered. It was found that strength decay in coupling beams can have substantial influence on member ductility.; A comparison of experimental data for a small-scale coupled wall model tested on an earthquake simulator and results of an analysis of the same structure using the analytical procedure employed in this investigation was made. Results show good agreement.; Various structural parameters were selected to investigate their significance on dynamic response. It was found that wall strength, fundamental period, beam-to-wall stiffness and strength ratios were important parameters among the ones that were considered. Therefore, these were selected as design variables.; Earthquake frequency characteristics, intensity and duration were considered as ground motion parameters. The results showed a direct relationship between structure period and earthquake frequency characteristics. The structure response increased linearly with increasing earthquake intensity.; A systematic design procedure was developed for earthquake resistant coupled walls. The design procedure allows for determination of ductility ratios for given structural and ground motion parameters. Design force levels in critical regions of members can be determined under a specific combination of structural and ground motion parameters. |
