Forced vibration analysis of stiffened coupled shear walls using continuous connection method

The paper considers the forced vibration analysis of stiffened coupled shear walls with semi-rigid connections having stepwise changes in width, employing a simplifying method widely used in the past for the static analysis of similar structures (Proc. First Technical Congress on Advances in Civil Engineering 2 (1993) 781). This method, called the Continuous Connection Method, is an efficient method for the predesign computations in the design of tall buildings for resistance against earthquakes. While the discrete structure is formulated as a continuous medium, the continuously distributed mass of the structure is discretized to a system of lumped masses. After obtaining the standard frequency equation and determining the circular frequencies and the corresponding modes of vibration, the dynamic analysis is carried out for a time dependent loading as the only external effect. The results of the present method are verified by comparing them with those of previous works. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.