Article Details
  • Published Online:
    July  2025
  • Product Name:
    The IUP Journal of Structural Engineering
  • Product Type:
    Article
  • Product Code:
    IJSE030725
  • DOI:
    10.71329/IUPJSE/2025.18.3.42-57
  • Author Name:
    Vishal Sharma and S K Verma
  • Availability:
    YES
  • Subject/Domain:
    Engineering
  • Download Format:
    PDF
  • Pages:
    42-57
Volume 18, Issue 3, July 2025
Seismic Performance of RC Buildings with Shear Walls at Different Locations: A Parametric Study
Abstract

The seismic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings is greatly affected by the positioning of shear walls, which serve as the main elements for resisting lateral loads. The paper presents a parametric analysis aimed at understanding how different shear wall placements influence the seismic performance of multistory RC buildings. A G+8 RC building with plan dimensions of 18 m × 18 m, situated in Seismic Zone IV, was analyzed. Five different models were developed: Model M1 represents a bare frame without shear walls; Model M2, shear walls at the periphery; Model M3, shear walls are placed at the corners; Model M4, shear walls are at the periphery but excluding the corners; and Model M5 adopts a C-shaped shear wall configuration. Seismic analysis was conducted using response spectrum method (RSM). The key response parameters such as story displacement, story drift, story stiffness, base shear and time period were evaluated and compared across the models. Introduction of shear walls helps in reducing story displacement and drift. Furthermore, the presence of shear walls enhanced base shear resistance and increased story stiffness, indicating superior seismic performance. The study concludes that optimized placement of shear walls significantly enhances the seismic resilience of RC buildings, making it a valuable strategy for construction in seismically active regions.

Introduction

Reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls are among the most effective and widely adopted lateral load-resisting elements in modern structural systems, particularly for buildings located in seismically active regions.