Seismic performance evaluation of coupled core walls with concrete and steel coupling beams

When coupling beams are proportioned appropriately in coupled core wall (CCW) systems, the input energy from ground motions is dissipated primarily through inelastic deformations in plastic hinge regions at the ends of the coupling beams. It is desirable that the plastic hinges form at the beam ends while the base wall piers remain elastic. The strength and stiffness of the coupling beams are, therefore, crucial if the desired global behavior of the CCW system is to be achieved. This paper presents the results of nonlinear response history analysis of two 20-story CCW buildings. Both buildings have the same geometric dimensions, and the components of the buildings are designed based on the equivalent lateral force procedure. However, one building is fitted with steel coupling beams while the other is fitted with diagonally reinforced concrete coupling beams. The force-deflection relationships of both beams are based on experimental data, while the moment-curvature and axial load-moment relationships of the wall piers are analytically generated from cross-sectional fiber analyses. Using the aforementioned beam and wall properties, nonlinear response history analyses are performed. Superiority of the steel coupling beams is demonstrated through detailed evaluations of local and global responses computed for a number of recorded and artificially generated ground motions.