Computers d Swuctureu Vol. 34. No. 4. pp. 577-583. 1990 0045-7949pl s3.00 + 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain. 0 1990 Pergamon Press plc

LATERAL LOAD ANALYSIS OF MULTI-STOREY

STRUCTURES CONSIDERING AXIAL DEFORMATIONS
S. PALA and G. GZMEN
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, Istanbul, Turkey

(Received 17 January 1989)

Abstract-A method of successive approximations is developed for the lateral load analysis of multi-storey
structures whereby the axial deformations are taken into account. At each step of the successive
approximations lateral loads are first distributed among vertical structural elements. The solution of the
system is then performed by analysing the vertical structural elements as independent substructures
subjected to the distributed loads. By introducing the concept of substructuring, it becomes possible to
handle the vast number of unknowns in groups of very small numbers. The effect of axial deformations
can bc taken into account indirectly, without increasing the number of unknowns. The relevant equations
take quite simple forms, which reduces the solution time remarkably.
The method presented herein is both practical and rapidly converging so that practically exact solutions
are obtained after a few steps of successive approximations.

INTRODUCHON DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD

Lateral load analysis of multi-storey structures may The structure consists of frames and shear walls
be performed using either exact or approximate with or without openings. Walls with openings are
methods of solution. Exact methods which may be considered as solid walls connected with coupling
applied by using a vast number of unknowns are in beams which in turn are idealized as fictitious
most cases considered as time consuming and imprac- frames [9]. Thus the system shown in Fig. 1 is consid-
tical. A number of approximate methods have been ered as comprising of walls 1,2,3; fictitious frames
developed for the analysis of multi-storey structures a, b, c and real frame d.
subjected to lateral loads. These methods take into The lateral stiffnesses of frames and fictitious
account various characteristics of the structures and frames are first determined approximately and the
yield approximate but reliable results for most of the lateral loads are distributed among vertical structural
cases met in practice [l-8]. elements by using the method given in [2]. The
It is well known that the major source of the errors solution of the system is then obtained by analysing
in these methods is the approximations introduced in the vertical structural elements as independent sub-
calculating the lateral stiffnesses (i.e. D values) of the structures subjected to the distributed loads. In each
columns. In [9], a method of successive approxi- step of the successive approximations, relative verti-
mations is given whereby the D values of the columns cal end displacements of columns and shear walls at
are adjusted at each step and practically exact results floor levels are determined by using the axial forces
are obtained after a few steps. In the present study, obtained in the’ previous step, and relative vertical
the method given in [9] is adopted and the effect of end displacements of beams are calculated by means
axial deformations is taken into account at each step of compatibility conditions. Beam end moments
of the successive approximations. It is shown that caused by these relative end displacements are consid-
practically exact results can be obtained after a few ered as the external moments for the relevant sub-
steps. Thus the economic superiority of the approxi- structures. This analysis, which is carried out using
mate methods is preserved to a great extent while the uncoupled stiffnesses for coupling beams, yields
approximation is eliminated. adjusted values for lateral stiffnesses. The next step of
the successive approximations is performed using
ASSUMF’TIONS these adjusted values [9].

The following assumptions are made in the LATERALSTIFFNESS OF FRAMES

analysis.
1. The material is linear-elastic. In the approximate methods which are based on
2. Floors are infinitely rigid in their planes. the distribution of storey shears among columns, the
3. Displacements are sufficiently small. (i.e. P-A basic compatibility equation is expressed as
effects can be neglected.)
4. Torsional effects due to loading and geometry can
be neglected.
577
CAS34,&E
578 S.PALA and G. ~ZMEN

Fig. 1. The system and its components.

where 6 is the relative lateral displacement of a storey, the wall bending moment diagram caused by the end
and T and D represent shear force and lateral stiffness moments of coupling beams is indicated by ‘a’ in
respectively. Fig. 3. This diagram may be approximated by
Lateral stiffness of a column is given by the linear diagram ‘b’ in the case of multi-storey
structures [lo].
12EZ Diagram ‘b’ in Fig. 3 may be considered as result-
D= -kh3 O<k<l, (2) ing from a fictitious frame whose lateral stiffness may
be expressed as
where E, Z and h denote modulus of elasticity,
moment of inertia and storey height, respectively. k
is a coefficient which is a function of the ratio between
beam and column stiffnesses. Most approximate
methods differ from each other in determining the Here TLi represents the shear force corresponding to
values of k. In the common special case, where the bending moment diagram b. Approximating the
column heights are constant throughout a storey, the displacement curve of the system as a second order
values parabola between successive storeys, mS,values are
obtained as follows.
12EZ For intermediate (ith) storeys (Fig. 4):
D=Tk (3)
D ,_k&t$+k;‘8 i+1
hr- (5)
can be used instead of Lf values in ~st~buting storey Bi+Bi+l .
shears among columns.

LATERAL STIFFNESS OF FICTITIOUS FRAMES

Coupling beams shown on axes a, b and c in Fig. 1

will be considered as fictitious frames. The shape of

I hi

Fig, 2. Loading and deformation of frames. Fig. 3. Approximation of coupling beam moments.
 Lateral load analysis of multi-storey structures 579

M1,0’“2 ”

If?_
2
hl
2

1
1

b) k-l
Ml," =Ml,0
Fig. 4. Intermediate storeys.
(al b)
For the uppermost (n th) storey (Fig. 5): Fig. 6. Lowermost storey.

b _2($W,+~~,+‘6”+,) DISTRIBUTION OF LATERAL LOADS AMONG

/,a- (6) VERTICAL STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
&I+&+, .

For the lowermost (1st) storey (Fig. 6): The structure which consists of shear walls and
frames may be idealized as shown in Fig. 8a, where
B,, = 2kL. the lateral stiffnesses of the fictitious and real frames
(7)
are added up. Analysis of the idealized system, i.e.
Here kia denotes the rotational stiffness of a distribution of lateral loads, is performed by the
coupling beam and Bi is the joint rotation at the ith method given in [2] whereby redundant link forces
storey. between walls and frames are considered in groups as
shown in Fig. 8b. The corresponding compatibility
equations may be expressed as
ROTATIONAL STIFFNESS OF BEAMS

Positive directions of unit end displacements and [Cl{Xl + {El = 0, (10)

corresponding end forces, i.e. stiffnesses of a beam ab,
are shown in Fig. 7. where [G] is a u-i-diagonal band matrix and {X} and
End moments of the beam ab due to end rotations {E} are vectors representing redundants and loading
6, and 6, may be expressed as constants, respectively. The non-zero elements of the
ith equation are given by
M,=k,,e,+k,,e,=k,e,
Mb.=kz,e,+k22eb=kbbe*, (8)
where k, and kbbare ‘uncoupled’ stiffnesses given by

koo= k,, + k12ebie.

kM= k,, + k,,eale,. (9)

Equations (9) may be used for both frame beams where

and coupling beams. It must be noted that, in calcu-
lating the values of k,,, k,, and kz2
of coupling beams, J;:= hi
( >i
certain portions within the shear walls must be
considered as being infinitely rigid. 6 PI,

and M,, represents the total cantilever bending

moment at the ith level due to lateral loads. Solution
of eqn (10) yields the values of the redundant forces
{X}. Shear forces of frames are obtained by

(a) -xt
Fig. 5. Uppermost storeyr 1 xi+l

hi ’
(13)
580 S. PALAand G. ~ZMEN

Fig. 7. Unit end displacements and end forces.

which can be distributed between the real and are obtained by

fictitious frames by
Mig=M,,+Xi

Ti=+T
T, =
M,+,,-M,,
hi ’ (15)

TLi=azT, (14) respectively. In the case of shear walls with coupling

CD beams, the shear wall bending moments given by eqn
(15) should be modified by using the fictitious beam
and bending moments and shear forces of shear walls end moments obtained through the shear forces T,-i.

n +l

W
Fig. 8. Idealized structure.

Fig. 9. Substructuring scheme.

 Lateral load analysis of multi-storey structures 581

ANALYSISOF SURSTBUCWRER is obtained [l 11. This modified equilibrium equation

can be used for the analysis of substructures. It must
Vertical elements of the structures, i.e. walls and be noted that in this equation only the rotations 8
frame columns, are considered as independent sub- appear as unknowns and the resulting matrix of
structures as shown in Fig. 9. Coupling beams and coefficients is t&diagonal. The modified column stiff-
frame beams are components of wall and column nesses for a typical column i, i - 1 is given by
substructures, respectively.
The unknowns of a substructure are joint rotation W’ ki;_,
pi,+‘_kf,+’ __
8 and relative storey displacement S. A typical k#-’ (204
moment equilibrium equation at joint i may be
written as k$;-’ ki;-,
pi;-’ -kf;-‘__
-
k&l- (2’W
pui=o; 33

(k#-’ + kf’i” + k&)q and uncoupled beam stiffness for the beam at the ith
storey is as given by eqn (9), i.e.
+k~~-‘Bi_*+kf~+lei+,+k~~-l~ii_,
+k :‘1+16i,i+l+M,&=0, (16)

and the lateral equilibrium equations for above level

l-l and for above level 2-2 shown in Fig. 10, may be Here 0, is identical with 6, and 0, is the angle at the
written as opposite end of the beam. The constant n,,, of the
equation is
p1.1 =o;
k&‘-18,+k~;-1~,_1+k~;-18,,,_l+Tl,I=0 (17) @,,,=$T,,,+sT,,. (22)
$3 j3 ’

c &,2 = 0; The terms M,, ,, in eqns (16) and (19) represent

k~:+1~j+k~~+1~,+1+k~;+18i,,+1+T2J=0. (18) the additional bending moments due to the axial
deformations of vertical structural elements. These
Here coefficients k denote column (wall) and beam additional terms are obtained as follows.
stiffnesses and T,,, and T2,2 are shear forces of Vertical relative displacements at floor levels are
columns i, i - 1 and i, i + 1, respectively. Substitut- computed by
ing the values of 6, i_, and 6, i+l obtained respectively
from eqns (17) and (18), in eqn (16), AiA (23)
EF,

in terms of axial forces and axial rigidities of vertical

+ pi;+1 structural elements.
&+l+ni,O+M,A=O (19)
Vertical relative displacement of a coupling beam
between two subsystems is

-F n-l
A,,6=Ab-Ao.

The additional bending moment due to relative

(24)

displacement A, may then be computed by

i+l
-
2 _-___-___----_ 2 Mi,A= k:3Ad, (25)
-’
which represents the effect of axial deformations of
, _________------_ 1
vertical structural elements in eqns (16) and (19).
i-l
Since the axial forces are not known at the beginning,
their initial values are taken as zero. In subsequent
2 steps of computation, the values obtained at previous
steps are utilized.
1 Solution of eqn (19) yields the values of joint
rotations. Relative storey displacements may be ob-
tained from eqn (17) or (18). End moments of
columns and beams are found by means of super-
-
position equations. The new lateral stiffnesses of real
Fig. 10. A single substructure. and fictitious frames may be computed in terms of
582 S. PALAand G. &MEN

rotations 0, and displacement 6 by means of the

method outlined above. Successive approximations
may then be carried out using these new values.

PROCEDURE OF SUCCESSIVE APPROX~~ONS

COMPUTE BEAM STIFFNESSES.
1 AND If VALUES FOR The uncoupled stiffnesses of beams given by
REAL AND FICTITIOUS FRAMES eqns (9) are dependent on the ratio of the joint
rotations at both ends of the beam. Since these ratios
I 1
as well as the axial forces of the vertical structural
DISTRIBUTE LATERAL LOADS

I I
I -
AMONG VERTICAL
ELEREWTS
STRUCTURAL
elements are not known at the beginning, a method
of successive approximations procedure is utilized.
Basic logic of the successive appro~mations
cedure is shown on the flow diagram in Fig. 11.
pro-

/ pz&q The procedure is repeated by using the joint

rotation ratios and axial forces obtained from the
analysis of substructures at each step. Thus the
1 I interaction of independent substructures is taken into
4 account indirectly while the simplicity of compu-
[ ANALYSE SUBSTRUCTURES 1 tations is preserved. Initial values of axial forces are
I taken as zero. Initial values for joint rotation ratios
are taken as unity, which is the well known basic
NOT CONVERGE assumption adopted by most of the approximate
methods. Here, however, they are used as the starting
point and modified throughout the analysis.

EXAMPLES

The effect of the axial deformations of shear walls

and columns gains importance when the height/width
ratio of the system increases. In order to illustrate the
Fig. 1I. Row diagram of successive approximations.
*

(x50_

1.00_
-_-____,
---r--- 8
‘4-’ I.00
i
ia*
i

38 1 B
-.
-.
-_
--
--I--

-- c
j 200_ 4 ?
s
4 IW b
~
UL

a
~
6.5 _,_ 3.0 _,_ 65
I I-

Fig. 12. The example structure.

 Lateral load analysis of multi-storey structures 583

Table 1. Base bending moments [M(kNm)] of walls matrices involved in computing the unknowns are tri-
No. of storeys diagonal and simply and systematically constructed.
5 10 15 20 Application of the method to various numerical
A=0 18.29 47.28 79.83 114.09 examples has revealed that a few steps suffice to
A#0 18.63 50.76 90.74 137.01 obtain practically exact results. The method, which
Increase 1.86% 7.36% 13.67% 20.09% comprises the repetition of an approximate and
simple procedure, is applicable to computers with
minimum capacity. Moreover, this method is very
importance of this effect, a parametric study is carried economic due to both the small number of steps
out using a wall with openings as shown in Fig. 12, required to obtain the exact solution and the sim-
and taking the number of storeys as 5, 10, 15 and 20. nlicity of the computations at each step.
The results are summarized in-Table 1.
The results shown are the base bending moments REFERENCES
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