The Use of Moment-Resisting Frames and Braced Frames for Lateral Stability of Multy-Storey Precast Concrete Structures

Abstract

Precast structures for multi-storey buildings can be designed with economy, safety and high performance. However, depending on the height of the building and the intensity of the lateral loads, the lateral stability system must be carefully chosen in order to maximize the global structural performance. In Brazil, the most common method for lateral stability is achieved by moment resisting precast-frames, wherein the moment-rotation response of the beam-column connections are responsible to provide the frame action, which will govern the distribution of internal forces and the sway distribution along the building height. On the other hand, in Europe, bracing systems comprised by shear walls or infill walls are mostly used, wherein beam-column connections are designed as hinged. The aim of this paper is to present a comparison between these methods for lateral stability, applying nine structural simulations with moment resisting precast-frames, shear walls and infill walls solutions, divided in three groups - 3 building with 5 storeys (21 meters high), 3 buildings with 10 storeys (41 meters high) and 3 building with 20 storeys (81 meters high). All first storeys are 5 meters high, while all the others are 4 meters high. The results from all structural analyses are compared. As conclusion, while moment-resisting beam-column connections are more feasible for applying in low-rise precast buildings, the use of shear walls and infill walls are more efficient for tall buildings due to decrease of lateral displacements, having a reduction of second order effects but also increasing the reactions at the foundations of bracing elements.