On the Applicability of Fixed Point Theory To the Behavior of Coupled Core Walls

The performance-based design of coupled core wall systems offers a number of advantages over conventional strength-based methods in terms of constructability and structural performance. Under large seismic loads, the expected degradation of the coupling beams in coupled wall structures results in an evolution of the lateral force resisting system from a coupled wall system to a system of linked cantilever wall piers. The present study focuses on the performance of the eventually obtained linked wall pier systems and defines their performance in a novel way: as the minimization of transmissibility of horizontal ground motion. In this paper, fixed point theory (FPT) is used to establish initial design values for the coupling beams required to optimize the dynamic response of the linked wall pier system. An initial parametric study of the application of FPT to optimizing the behavior of linked wall piers is presented. The resulting optimized wall systems are compared with practically obtainable, rigid and uncoupled systems subject to a linear time history analysis to assess the extent and practicality of optimization obtained.