A method for analyzing shear wall structures on elastic foundations is
presented. The shear walls are modeled using a nine-noded isoparametr
ic quadrilateral plane stress element and the soil is modeled using a
three-noded quadratic element that includes the Vertical subgrade reac
tion and soil Shear stiffness. It is observed that analyzing shear wal
l structures as fixed cantilevers, i.e. ignoring soil-structure intera
ction, significantly underestimates the wall drift. It is shown that i
ncluding soil shear stiffness in the analysis reduces the maximum drif
t and increases the normal stresses in the wall, especially for poor s
oil. It is also shown that ignoring the soil deformation underestimate
s the bending moment in the lintel beams of coupled shear walls, and t
he transverse bending moment in core structures. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci
ence Ltd.