Simplified Method for the Seismic Analysis of Masonry Shear-Wall Buildings

摘要

In this paper, an improved version of a simplified method to assess lateral shear forces attracted by shear walls of regular, low-rise masonry structures is presented. This simplified method for seismic analysis (SMSA) is allowed by Mexican building codes since the 1970s. The impact of shear deformations in the three-dimensional distribution of the forces absorbed by these walls is assessed for different wall aspect ratios (H/L). Based on extensive parametric studies, effective shear area factors (F_(AE)) originally proposed in the SMSA are modified to improve the estimates of shear forces using this method. New F_(AE) are proposed for three different performance levels for the structure: (1) elastic response; (2) completely nonlinear (cracked) response of all walls along the building height; and (3) partially nonlinear (cracked) response along the height.