Simplified analysis of wall-frame structures

Abstract

A simplified method is presented for the analysis of planar, uniformly perforated walls under the action of lateral loads. The method is based on replacing the perforated wall by an elastically equivalent orthotropic plate. The principle of minimum total complementary potential energy is then used to determine stresses and displacements in the equivalent plate. Internal forces in the actual structure are obtained by direct integration of these stresses. An example is worked out to illustrate the application of the method and its accuracy. Design curves are presented for the rapid determination of internal forces.