| Abstract: | Using a newly introduced ductile low-rise shear wall with vertical keyways, a seismic resistance design approach for a practical type of composite structure, which consists of a reinforced concrete frame in the bottom floors and masonry structures in the upper floors, has been presented. The purpose of the new design approach is to improve the earthquake resistance of the whole structure by increasing the energy dissipation capacity in the bottom part of the structure. Non-linear analysis shows that, by adopting the newly proposed ductile low-rise shear wall in the bottom of the structure, the lateral deflection of the structure is not much more than that of a structure using conventional solid low-rise shear walls under a small or moderate earthquake excitation, and that even under the attack of a severe earthquake, a stable structural response can be expected for the proposed structure. Thus it is easy for such a structure to achieve the design objective of ‘minor damage in a small earthquake and prevention of collapse in a severe earthquake’ and the design method is of practical value for similar types of composite structures. |
