Recommendations for Seismic Design of Hybrid Coupled Wall Systems

Prepared by the Technical Committee on Composite Construction of the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE.

This report synthesizes the existing information on hybrid coupled wall (HCW) systems into helpful recommendations pertaining to their seismic analysis and design. HCW systems are lateral-force-resisting systems composed of reinforced concrete walls coupled by steel beams. Extensive research has shown that HCW systems possess the necessary combination of stiffness, strength, and toughness for application in regions of moderate to high seismicity.

This book offers two methods for system design: a prescriptive method based on linear elastic analysis and an all-purpose performance-based method that can be used in conjunction with linear or nonlinear analysis techniques. Guidelines for preliminary system proportioning are also provided along with recommendations for component design.

This book is valuable to engineers and allied professionals involved in seismic analysis.