Balancing Cost and Seismic Performance: Rectangular vs. T-shaped Shear Walls in Steel Frame Tall Buildings

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The economic importance of tall buildings makes the selection of lateral load-resisting systems a critical challenge, as these systems must also be cost-effective. One widely adopted option for such structures is the steel moment frame combined with reinforced concrete shear walls. In many tall buildings around the world, reinforced concrete shear walls are recognized as an efficient lateral system. Improving the performance of these structures through the optimal placement of shear walls in the building plan can result in significant cost savings. A common practice is to modify conventional rectangular shear walls into T, L, or I-shaped configurations. Due to their three-dimensional efficiency, T-shaped shear walls can provide seismic resistance in both principal directions of a building. In this study, an economic comparison was conducted between rectangular and T-shaped reinforced concrete shear walls in steel-frame tall buildings. The results showed that T-shaped shear walls are economically superior to rectangular ones, as they require less material while achieving smaller deformations. Moreover, T-shaped walls do not impose significant architectural or construction challenges, as their geometry facilitates the integration of functional elements such as elevator shafts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Civil Engineering and Applied Solutions
Volume 2, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 12-21

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History

  • Receive Date: 19 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 01 October 2025
  • First Publish Date: 04 October 2025

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