Comparative Analysis of a Lateral Load Resisting System with Shear Walls

In addition to columns, beams, slab RCC structures are having vertical plates or walls called the shear walls. We are calling them shear walls as they are resisting large amount of shear because of lateral loads on the RCC structure. Thus, shear deformation does not dominate the RC wall failures. Shear walls are a type of wide beams that carry the seismic forces or loads to the base or foundation. It can also act like a cantilever to oppose the lateral loads without or in presence of the frames. The vertical elements of the lateral load resisting system are the Shear walls. We are constructing the shear walls to reduce the effect of the lateral loads on a tall structure. Shear walls are constructed in the residential as well as the commercial buildings based on the requirements to form a box type structure to resist the lateral loads. Thus after proper design and construction shear walls are ready to resist the lateral loads acting on the structure bearing sufficient strength and stiffness to resist these loads. The Shear walls which are constructed in the structure not only resist the vertical loads and its self weight but also the lateral loads due to winds, earthquake and sway moments. The shear walls are placed at such positions and angles such that it has a considerable affect on the lateral loads. Therefore, shear walls are best suited for the structure in the resistance of the lateral loads. Shear walls has to resist many forces acting on it such as the pull of the wind forces, the shear forces which pushes the walls, etc., Different types and shapes of shear walls are constructed in the structure according to the lateral load resistance design requirements, hence gaining the three dimensional stability.