Non-Linear Finite Element Analysis and Design of RC Shear Wall: Nigeria Earth Tremor as Case Study

Abstract

In Nigeria, it is common to design buildings first for gravity loads and then assess the structure's suitability for safety against lateral loads. It is well known that lateral loads influence the design of multi-story buildings, hence the designer's first priority should be to ensure that the structure is sufficiently safe from lateral loads. Nigeria has a large number of RC frame building that are not designed to resist seismic load because of the belief that Nigeria does not have area that are prone to earthquake, but Nigeria is no longer free from earthquake due to the occurrence of earth tremors in Nigeria in the past. This study focused on the design of RC shear wall in three storey building that assume to be place in seismic prone area in Nigeria which is capable of resisting Earthquake. The data of the magnitudes of earth tremors that have occurred in Nigeria was collected from Centre of Geodesy and Geodynamic to determine the seismic load to EC8 specification. Extended Three-Dimensional Analysis of Building System (ETABS) was used to analyze and design the shear wall. ETABS 2016 software was incorporated with all the major analysis engines that is static, dynamic, Linear and non-linear, etc. This tool was used for the modeling, analyses and design of RC shear wall for three storey building to resist Earthquake load. Hence, providing shear walls at adequate locations substantially reduce structural vulnerability and absorb Earthquake energy through inelastic deformation and prevent collapse and lose of lives.