Elasto-plastic analysis of coupled shear walls

The problem of yielding in the components of coupled shear walls under strong earthquake excitation reduces, for purposes of design, to estimation of ductility requirements. To provide a basic treatment of this problem, a simplified elasto-plastic analysis of coupled shear walls subjected to lateral loading is suggested. It is based on an approximate distribution of the coupling shear for post-elastic behaviour. A continuous lamina replaces the coupling beams, and hinges are permitted in the walls as well as in the beams. Four examples are included to demonstrate the application of the proposed analysis and to assess the validity of the approximations involved. Results confirm the proposed analysis to within good accuracy.