US 7,596,922 B2 · Structural wall coupling system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for coupling separate series or stacks of structural or shear walls of a multistory building are disclosed. The method comprises constructing a plurality of stacks of shear walls and attaching a rigid coupling member to the top of at least two of the stacks of shear walls between the stacks such that the walls are connected to the rigid coupling member and move together with the coupling member. The apparatus is a rigid coupling member, which may be a beam, such as an I-beam or rectangular beam, made from poured concrete and reinforcing steel. The coupling member may also be a wall of poured concrete and reinforcing steel. The attached rigid member acts to connect the tops of independent stacks of shear walls typically used to build multistory buildings, thereby creating a flexural moment at the top of the building that helps the building resist lateral loads.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of coupling portions of a multistory building and resisting catastrophic shear forces therein, the method comprising:

constructing a first series of stacked shear walls, said first series of shear walls having a top end and a bottom end;
constructing a second series of stacked shear walls adjacent said first series, said second series of shear walls having a top end and a bottom end;
attaching a rigid member adjacent said top ends of said first and second series of shear walls;
moving each of said top ends from a first position to a second position;
connecting said top ends with said rigid member in said second positions such that said top ends do not move relative to each other;
resisting the catastrophic shear forces with said rigid member;
maintaining the connection between said first and second series during movement in response to the catastrophic shear forces;
and
returning said top ends to said first positions.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Structural wall coupling system

Life of this patent

Structural wall coupling system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12