Seismic analysis of complex shear wall structures using different approaches

Shear wall structures with complex geometry, beams and columns are peculiar features of nuclear reactor building (NRB) structures. The NRB type of structure may be solved by using continuum mechanics approach, finite element approach, equivalent beam approach (EBA) based on Euler Bernoulli beam theory (EBBT), Timoshenko beam theory (TBT) with shear deformations, strain energy equivalence method or component element method. Continuum mechanics approach is very difficult to apply for complex geometry. It was observed that there is good comparison between the 3D finite element model and equivalent beam model based on strain energy equivalence irrespective of the type of problem