MINIMIZING THE OPEN GROUND STOREY EFFECT IN RCC STRUCTURES BY ADDITION OF SHEAR WALLS AND STEEL BRACINGS

Abstract

This paper focuses on studying the effects of open ground storey configuration in the buildings and remedying it by using shear walls, diagonal steel bracings and cross steel bracings. The linear dynamic analysis (response spectrum analysis) has been adopted for seven storied (G+6) symmetrical buildings. The responses of the models, in terms of storey drift, lateral displacement, storey shear, storey stiffness and bending moment variation are compared for different configurations and presented. It can be effectively concluded that the provision of shear walls can reduce the effects of soft storey to a much greater extend. Cross steel bracings also play an inevitable role in reducing the soft storey effect in the buildings. As the height of the building increases, the factors evaluated in this paper exert a major impact on the building's stability, thus necessitating the need for in depth study in this area.