Shear Wall and Frame Dual Systems Featuring Discontinuous Load Paths in Frame Elements in Low-to-Moderate Seismic Regions

Reinforced concrete buildings constitute a significant portion of construction in Australia. Many existing buildings in Australia and other low to moderate seismic regions have been designed with little to no consideration for ductile detailing. The majority of these buildings also possess vertical irregularities, which can exacerbate their vulnerability in an earthquake event. The seismic performance of shear wall and frame dual systems possessing discontinuities in frame elements in the form of ductility and failure mechanism has been assessed. And design recommendations in terms of response modification factors and designation of appropriate methods of analysis have been provided.