Staggered Shear Panels in Tall Buildings

Abstract

The concept of providing story‐deep and bay‐wide discrete staggered panels to resist lateral loads in tall buildings has been introduced. Three systematic arrangments of panels have been investigated and critically assessed for their feasibility and advantages as compared to the conventional shear wall system. By suitably positioning and dimensioning the staggered panels lateral deflections can be controlled. Significant reduction in the shear wall base moment is achieved in the proposed system. However, the skeletal members attract more end forces which is not a serious shortcoming. Concentration of stresses occurs at the corners of a panel where columns and girders meet; but the stress‐diffusion is steeply rapid. Idealization of discrete panels as rigid bodies or wide columns with rigid arms makes the frame stiffer. A finite element method of analysis using Macleod's pair of elements, which considers inplane rotation, has been found suitable. The shear panels can be made functional as in the case of apartment constructions. Large unobstructed floor areas can be created by staggering the frames in plan.