Effect of positioning of shear walls in a multi-storied building on response to earthquake

Abstract

Seismic events are a matter of concern for structural engineers because of their devastating effects. These events are neither can be predicted. nor can be prevented. To mitigate its impacts on the structures several measures are taken. But none of them can be treated as 100% effective, there is a lot of scope for improvement. In this study, the dynamic behavior of structures under seismic loading was investigated, focusing on the combined influence of geometric shapes, different types of shear walls, and their position on lateral displacement and drift. Specifically, four different geometric shapes of plans of identical floor areas were taken for this study. Two types of shear walls, oupled shear walls, and core shear walls were placed in four different positions. The Static Equivalent Load method to assess the seismic response of structures is employed in this study, following the guidelines given in the Bangladesh National Building Code 2006 using ETABS software. Key findings of the study are the efficacy of shear walls in mitigating lateral displacement. The optimum results were achieved for central positions and core wall configurations. The study discloses the significance of different geometric shapes on seismic responses. This study provides a perception of effective seismic retrofitting strategies.