Abstract

The behaviour of lintel beam-to-shear wall connections plays an important role in the analysis of shear walls with openings. A computer-based method was prepared for nonlinear frames comprised of lintel beams having fully rigid end sections flexibly connected to wide column members accounting for shear deformations. The analytical procedure employed stability functions to model the effect of axial force on the stiffness of members. The modified member stiffness matrix and the fixed end forces for various loads were found. The nonlinear analysis method was applied for a model shear wall problem. The method is readily implemented on a computer using matrix structural analysis techniques and is applicable for the efficient nonlinear analysis of frameworks.

Key words: Nonlinear analysis, semi-rigid connection, shear deformation, shear wall, lintel beam.