Performance-based design of high-rise coupled wall systems

Coupled core walls provide an efficient lateral load-resisting system. Performance of coupled wall systems depends primarily on ensuring that coupling beams provide adequate stiffness and strength. Current design guidelines, which are based on a strength-based design approach, often result in beams with unrealistic details. Previous studies have also demonstrated that coupled core walls behave differently from what is assumed in a traditional strength-based design approach. Therefore, currently available strength-based design methodology is inadequate to address a large class of coupled core wall systems, and alternative design approaches are necessary. In this paper, a rational approach based on a performance-based design method is demonstrated through the design and analysis of a prototype 30-story coupled core wall structure. Critical responses of the prototype structure at different limit states under representative ground motions are compared in order to evaluate the adequacy of the performance-based design method.