THE EFFECT OF FOUNDATION FLEXIBILITY ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN SHEARWALLS AND FRAMES

A simple and rapid hand method based on the continuum approach for the static analysis of uniform structures consisting of interacting shear walls and frames with planar loading for fixed and flexible foundatio ns is presented, although this is an over-simplified and restricted me thod of analysis, it is very useful for preliminary design. The effect of foundation flexibility on the interaction of shear walls and frame s is studied and results are compared to those of a fixed base. Result s were compared satisfactorily with the conventional method (the discr ete system). Design charts which further simplify the hand computation are included. These charts include the distribution of the bending mo ments in the walls and of the shear forces in the walls and frames alo ng the height of the structure. The results are presented in terms of dimensionless parameters. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.