Effect of Abrupt Change in the Stiffness of Lateral Load Resisting Element on Diaphragm Behavior

In some buildings for ascending base level some surrounding retaining wall was used in lower stories. The greater stiffness of surrounding retaining wall in relation to lateral load resisting elements affected on diaphragm behavior. If stiffness of surrounding retaining wall much more than that lateral resisting elements, invert shear phenomenon will occur in a way that diaphragm and retaining wall act as restrain for lateral load resisting elements. In this study a case study including a building rehabilitated through a process which diaphragm in lower stories affected by heavy shear is assessed.

Keywords:

Diaphragm Behavior , Invert Shear Phenomenon , Nonlinear Static Analysis , Retaining Wall