Mechanical Nonlinear Shear Wall Model

Abstract

The nonlinear performance of a shear wall building can often only be described by full-scale testing or nonlinear analysis. Full-scale tests are time consuming and expensive; nonlinear analysis often is mathematically complex so that limiting assumptions are necessary to simplify the problem. This study describes a mechanical model which can simulate the nonlinear static or dynamic response of a shear wall or diaphragm. An assembly of these models can then simulate entire buildings and is suitable for the experimental investigation of the linear and nonlinear, static or dynamic response of shear wall structures.