Shear walls in Prokon SUMO are best modelled using Wall Tool, which applies shell elements for accurate stiffness representation.

Why Lateral Stability Matters:

• Resists horizontal forces (wind, seismic loads, soil pressure).
• Prevents excessive sway, collapse, and structural failure.

Stability Systems:

• Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls
• Steel Bracing Systems
• Moment-Resisting Frames

Benefits of Shear Walls & Bracing:

• Increased stiffness and stability.
• Reduced sway and drift.
• Improved strength and ductility.

Applications:

• Shear Walls: Lift shafts, stairwells, core walls.
• Steel Bracing: Warehouses, factories, retrofitting.

This is a guide on how to model a concrete frame with shear walls and a steel frame with bracing in Prokon SUMO.

Modelling a Shear Wall in Prokon SUMO

• Start a New Model
  • Open Prokon SUMO

• Define Materials
  • Import concrete grade (e.g., 30 MPa).

• Define Sections
  • Add column section: 500 × 500 mm.

• Add Supports & Columns
  • Go to Structure → Add Pad Footing.
  • Edit stub length and footing dimensions.
  • Copy footings to create a 25 × 25 m grid.

• Insert columns at grid intersections.
• Copy columns using Array Copy.

• Define Story Levels
  • Set up Ground, First, till the last levels.

• Insert the Shear Wall
  • From Surface Elements → Wall
  • Define:
    • Thickness (e.g., 400 mm).
    • Mesh Size (e.g 0.25)
    • Material (Concrete 30 MPa).
    • Height: The wall can be continuous through multiple stories or defined per floor.
    • Assign Supports & Boundary Conditions:
      • Define support underneath the wall: Line Support, pinned or any type of support designer prefers.
      • Ensure wall edges connect rigidly to floor slabs.

• Insert Slab
  • Switch to first floor to define the perimeter of the slab
  • From the Surface Elements panel, choose Slab.
  • Define the perimeter of the slab along the corner columns in the model:
    • Thickness: 300mm
    • Mesh size: 0.25m
    • Material (Concrete 30 MPa).

• Copy slabs and columns for remaining floors.

• Apply Loads
  • Self-weight (automatic).
  • Live loads (slabs).
  • Lateral loads (wind/seismic).

• Run Analysis
  • Linear Analysis → check sway reduction.
  • Second-Order Analysis → for slender walls.
  • Seismic analysis if applicable.

• Output & Design
  • Contour plots: axial and shear stresses.
  • Integration strips: forces in wall.
  • Extract moments (Mx, My) and shears (Vx, Vy).

Shear wall reduces sway, attracts significant lateral forces.

Modelling a Steel Frame Without Bracing

• Create a Simple frame using steel members.
• Assign material: Structural Steel (e.g., S355).
• Define cross-sections for beams and columns.
• Apply supports at the base.
• Add same load cases as before.
  • Live Loads
  • Dead Loads
  • Wind loads

• Run a Second Order Analysis.
• Observe sway displacements in the unbraced frame.

Add Bracing to the Steel Frame

• Insert diagonal braces.
• Assign steel material and section.
• Connect braces between columns and beams.

• Rerun the analysis.
• Compare sway reduction between unbraced vs. braced steel frame

Integrate Shear Wall into the Braced Model

• Combine steel frame + concrete shear wall in the same model.
• Define interface connection: rigidly connect wall edges to the frame.
• Run analysis again.
• Compare displacements, member forces, and sway effects.
• Highlight how the shear wall stiffens the structure.

Run Analysis

• Perform a Second-Order Analysis in solver settings.
• Compare:
  • Sway magnitudes.
• Show how second order effects become critical in slender, unbraced frames.

Access Output

• View Displacements → compare sway values.

• View Forces & Moments → in braces, columns, and walls.
• Check Contour Plots on the shear wall.

Conclusion

• Unbraced steel frame → high sway, not stable.
• Braced steel frame → sway greatly reduced.
• Shear wall → provides significant lateral stiffness, reducing sway further.
• Second-order analysis → essential to capture true sway behaviour.