Structural Behavior of High-Rise Buildings with Shear Wall and Bracing Systems

Abstract

This study evaluates the structural behavior of a 15-storey reinforced concrete residential building strengthened using shear wall and reinforced concrete cross-bracing systems. Seven analytical configurations were considered: a conventional frame without a dedicated lateral load-resisting system, shear walls at the centre, intermediate location and exterior location, and cross-bracing at the centre, intermediate location and exterior location. The building was modelled in ETABS using a 5 × 5 bay square grid, 4 m storey height, M30 concrete members, 200 mm slab thickness, 400 mm shear wall thickness and 5% damping. Equivalent Static Analysis was adopted in accordance with IS 1893:2016, with gravity loads considered as per IS 875. The comparison focused on storey displacement, inter-storey drift, storey shear and overturning moment. The results show that the conventional frame records the highest lateral displacement and drift, while the introduction of shear walls and cross-bracing significantly improves seismic performance. Exterior placement of lateral systems provides the largest improvement in displacement and drift control, while the intermediate shear wall configuration produces the lowest reported overturning moment. Overall, the study confirms that appropriate placement of lateral load-resisting elements is essential for improving stiffness, reducing seismic response and enhancing the serviceability and stability of high-rise reinforced concrete buildings.