Skip to main content
Presentation
Quasi-Static Analysis of Rocking Wall Systems
Engineering Mechanics Institute (2011)
  • Douglas Seymour, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Simon Laflamme, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract

Rocking wall systems consist of shear walls that are free to rotate at their base. Their purpose is to mitigate seismic structural damage by constraining the structure primarily to its first mode. This constraint prevents weak story failure, and maximizes energy dissipation by activating plastic hinges throughout the structure. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for the design of rocking wall systems. A quasi-static analysis model is used for predicting the seismic mitigation performance of rocking walls. The stiffness matrix is generalized for an N-story simplified structure equipped with this structural system. The model presented enables optimization of the design parameters, and consequently improved system effectiveness, analytical tractability, and material usage. The method is validated using the case study of an existing rocking wall system installed in a structure located in Tokyo, Japan.

Keywords
  • Earthquake resistant structures,
  • Earthquake engineering,
  • Seismic analysis,
  • Seismic design
Publication Date
June, 2011
Comments
Copyright 2011 ASCE
Citation Information
Douglas Seymour and Simon Laflamme. "Quasi-Static Analysis of Rocking Wall Systems" Engineering Mechanics Institute (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/simon_laflamme/5/