Continuum Models for Dynamics of Buildings

Abstract

An analytical method was developed for the dynamic analysis of multistory buildings with significant in‐plane floor flexibility. Expressions are given for the dynamic properties of multistory buildings with end walls (or frames) in the transverse direction. The floors of these structures are idealized as equivalent, distributed beams while the walls or frames are treated as bending or shear beams. The equations of motion and the boundary conditions of the resulting elements are solved exactly to obtain a transcendental characteristic equation that can be solved numerically to obtain natural frequencies. The substitution of these frequencies in the given expressions provides mode shapes and participation factors. The approach was also applied to the analysis of a multistory building with end walls in the upper stories and several walls in the ground story. The Imperial County Services Building, which has a similar system, has been studied using the developed solutions. The method predicts several important features of the complex dynamic behavior of this building.