Abstract:
The behaviour of shear wall-floor slab connections has been studied by using
artificial neural network (ANN). An artificial neural network is an information-processing
system based on the observed behaviour of biological nervous systems. A neural net
consists of a large number of simple processing elements called neurones. Each neurone is
connected to another neurone by means of direct communication links, each with an
associated weight. The strength of the connections is dictated by the weights, which
connect different neurones. . Each neurone accepts a set of inputs from other neurones
and also from external sources and generates an output. Structural design requires
engineering judgement, intuition, experience and creative abilities in addition to number of
options available to the designer. The ANN approach has the capabilities to incorporate
some of the above-mentioned requirements for development of computer programs in
structural design. ANN has been used in this thesis to
(i) to determine the effective width of slabs coupling walls of different shapes and
(ii) to determine the critical perimeter and ultimate punching shear capacity of the
shear wall-floor slab junction,
A computer program is also developed for determining the effective width and the
ultimate punching shear capacity of the shear wall-floor slab junction.
The effective width and ultimate failure load of slabs coupling walls of different
shapes as predicted by ANN is compared with the experimental and theoretical results
available. The agreement is found very good. The effect of shear wall thickness, opening
between shear walls, effect of flange wall etc. on effective width and ultimate failure load
of slabs are also analyzed. Once the neural network is developed, it will be able to predict
the effective width and ultimate failure load for different new parameters within fraction of
minute.
It has been revealed that application of ACI and British Code in case of shear wall
structures for calculating punching shear strength may lead to an overestimation of
strength. In most practical cases, the formula proposed by Bari M. S. gives a conservative
estimation of punching shear strength of shear wall structures.
