A continuous-discrete approach to the free vibration analysis of stiffened pierced walls on flexible foundations

hybrid approach, based on the analysis of an equivalent continuous medium and a discrete lumped mass system, is presented in this paper for conducting dynamic analysis of stiffened coupled shear walls supported on foundations which are flexible rotationally, and in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The effect of shear deformation on the free vibration behaviour of coupled shear walls reinforced by stiffening beams located at the top and the base level, and at an arbitrary level along the structural height is considered. The stiffened coupled shear wall system is represented by either a continuous system or a discrete system at various stages of the analysis. The advantage of using these two ways of representing the shear wall system is that the stiffness and mass matrices required for structural dynamic analysis are easily obtained. Numerical studies on a typical example structure, carried out by this continuous-discrete approach, to investigate the effects of shear deformation and the incorporation of stiffening beams on the free vibration characteristics of stiffened coupled shear wall structures, are also presented.