What is the most effective way to handle wind and seismic loads in a precast parking structure?
For most structures, shear walls are a better solution than moment frames. Shear walls can be provided with little or no cost impact to a structure, since these walls can also be designed to carry gravity loads, thus replacing beams and columns. An example of this is an interior “light” wall, which is a cost-effective way to support tees on a ramp, but also, the “light” wall in an effective shear wall to resist loads in its long direction. The “light” wall has an added benefit as well in that it is more open than a system of columns and crossing spandrels.
