Analysis of Asymmetrical Coupled Shear Walls

A method of analysis is devised for asymmetrical coupled shear wall structures. The individual shear wall piers, one story in height, are considered to be single elements in a stiffness matrix assembly for the complete structure. The stiffness matrices for such shear wall elements are developed on the assumption that such walls act as thin walled beams, and include the torsional warping effect and its corresponding force parameter, the bimoment. The stiffness matrices for the connecting beams are given a geometrical transformation so that their ends can be considered connected to the pier axes, i.e., their shear centers. When the entire floor slab can be considered as rigid in its plane, a modification is developed which results in considerable reduction in computer time and storage. Displacements and torsional stiffness are computed for a 23-story building consisting of two channel shaped piers connected at the flanges. Results compare favorably with previous experimental work.