Unit Three

Lateral Load Resisting Systems in Buildings

A structure should be able to:
 Resist lateral loads of minor intensity with out damage
 Resist moderate lateral loads with minor damages of structural
and non-structural elements
 Resist major lateral loads with out collapse
 The overall system that provides lateral resistance and stability
to a building is known as Lateral Force Resisting System
(LFRS)
 The LFRS includes:
 Rigid frames
 Braced frames
 Horizontal diaphragms
 Shear walls (vertical diaphragms)
 Dual systems (Mixed wall-frame system)
 Tube system
LFRS includes

(a) Steel moment-resisting frame

(b) Reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame
(c) Braced steel frame
(d) Reinforced concrete shear walls
(e) Steel frame building with cast-in-place concrete shear walls
(f) Steel frame building with in-filled walls of non reinforced masonry
Comparison of Structural Systems in Concrete
RIGID FRAMES:
 Consist of beams and columns framed together to produce
moment resisting system
 Are the most flexible of the basic type of lateral resistive system
Response of Frame for Gravity Load and Lateral Load
Advantages

• Provides flexibility for architectural design and layout

Disadvantages

• Produces greater deflection and drift compared to that

of braced frames or shear walls

• Produces localized stress concentrations at rigid joints

• Requires care in erection of connections in order to

resist lateral loads properly

• Expensive moment connections 8

ANALYSIS OF LATERAL LOAD FRAME SYSTEM
 Portal frame Analysis: The portal analysis makes the following
assumptions
i. Story shears are carried by corner and interior columns in a
1 to 2 ratio
ii. An inflexion point is assumed in the middle of both beams
and columns
iii. Is most suitable for buildings having
 low elevation and uniform framing

0= inflection point V V V V
 V 2V V
Therefore
 P =V+V+V+V = 4V
 V=p/4=0.25P
Example
Determine (approximately) the reactions at the base
of the columns of the frame shown
50KN

3.8m

30KN

4m

6m 6m 6m 6m
50KN
1.9m

v 2v 2v 2v v

50KN

3.8m

30KN
2m

v 2v 2v 2v v
For Second Story
3.96
3.96
50 43.75 31.25 18.75
3.96 3.96
3.96
6.25 12.5
3.96 12.5
0
3.96 0 3.96

18.75 6.25

3.96

12.5
6.25
0
3.96
For First Story
3.96
6.25 12.5 12.5
10.63 10.37

30 26.25 18.75 11.25

10.63 10.37 10.88

10 20
20
14.59 0.51
-0.26
3.96
12.5 6.25
10.88 10.37

11.25 3.75

10.37

20
10

14.33
BRACED FRAMES:
 Refers to the use of trussing or triangulation of the frame to
achieve its lateral stability
 The trussing causes the lateral loads to induce only axial
forces in the members of the frame as compared to the
behavior of rigid frame
As a result
 Diagonals and beams are considered as web members
(axial members) to resist a horizontal shear
 Columns are considered as chords (flexural members)
Advantages
• Can be located internally or externally for flexibility of
architectural design
• Accommodates service penetrations
• Can be located within partition walls
• No need for moment connections

Disadvantages
• Produces problems for layout of windows and doors due to
obstruction of bracings
• Need for large gusset plates for connections between beams and
columns 16
1. Single diagonal bracing 2. Double diagonals bracing

3. K- diagonal bracing 4. Knee diagonal bracing

Horizontal Diaphragms
 Consist of elements such as roofs, floor framing and/or the deck
system having sufficient strength and stiffness with rigid and
useful planes.
 The slab connected to the shear wall must function as a
horizontal diaphragm
Vertical Diaphragms
 Shear walls are walls of buildings and essentially function as
lateral load resistive system
 Most common type includes: concrete masonry, wood shear
walls, RC shear walls.
 Shear walls also provide resistance to lateral forces by cantilever
action through shear and bending
 Shear walls need to be placed symmetrically in both directions to
the plane of loading so that no torsional effect would be
produced.

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Advantages of shear wall
 Cost efficient since only a few shear walls are required
 Have large stiffness and strength for resistance
 Can provide torsional resistance to structure if placed in a
symmetrical layout
 Can be used as fire compartment walls, stairs, or lift shafts
 Will not obstruct architectural layout

Disadvantages of shear wall

 Decrease in stiffness and strength when there are openings
 Produce concentrated stress in the walls since the walls support the
whole building’s lateral stability
 Produce large effects of overturning on shear walls
 Creates large bearing pressure for foundations due to self-weight of
walls
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 Dual Systems (Mixed Wall-frame System)

 Response under lateral load is not anymore that of a cantilever

wall or frame because of the interaction b/n the two
 Reliable solutions can be found by modeling the building as a
plane structure consisting of the frames and the walls connected
by rigid links

21
 Deformation pattern of a dual system

22
• Typical deflection, moment and shear diagrams

23
24
Tube System
formed by using closely spaced columns and deep
spandrel beams
The lateral load is primarily resisted by the entire
building acting as a big cantilever with a tubular/ box
cross-section
There is a “shear lag” problem between opposite
faces of the tube due to in-efficiency of column
beam connection
Best for more than 60 stories
They may be framed tube structures, Braced tube
structures, Tube in tube structures and Bandles
Framed Tube Systems

Systems in which closely-spaced columns are

located along the periphery of a building
Deep spandrel beams, located on the exterior
surface of the building, interconnect these
columns
Appropriate for buildings having up to 80
stories
Braced Tube Systems

 Diagonal Braces are added to the basic

tubular structure
 This modification of the Tubular System
reduces shear lag between opposite faces
 Braces transfer axial load from the more
highly stressed columns to the less
highly stressed columns, this eliminates
differences between load stresses in the
columns
.
Braced and Shear Wall Systems

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