In the present study, a three dimensional finite element computer analysis technique is developed for the analysis of multistorey building structures made of pierced shear walls of open and/or closed cross-sections and flat plates. A computer program based on the finite element technique is developed and used to obtain accurate solutions. A large proportion of time spent in any finite element analysis is that required for preparing and checking the input data and correcting the errors which inevitably occur. In realistic problems thousands of nodes and elements are required to prepare an appropriate model for an appropriate analysis. Preparation of such a model requires a great effort and time. Changing the data is not easy either. This is the reason why a special and powerful mesh generation subroutine is provided together with pre-and post-processor programs. A graphic program is also developed to prepare the data interactively by utilizing a powerful screen graphic option. The input data of a multistorey building with repetitive storey planes having a very large number of degrees of freedom is no more than a couple of lines only. After defining the required values, the mesh generation program executes and prepares required files including the nodal point coordinates, nodal points of rectangular finite elements with element and material properties, nodal points of frame elements with element and material properties, boundary spring rigidities, and boundary conditions, external loads of the structure, etc. Using the present mesh generation program, the model can be created or modified easily. The beams or columns can be added or cancelled easily by typing a couple of characters. The user will not have to deal with the nodal points and the elements. It is sufficient to specify the structural component required such as moment distribution on any shear wall, or a slab or a column.

Plate finite elements are considered to represent the membrane and, when needed, the bending behaviour of the shear wall and floor components. The present computer program based on the finite element technique is named "TUNAL" and it is used to obtain accurate solutions to determine the bounds of the simplifying assumptions commonly made for the analysis of multistorey building structures. The program is capable of performing structural analysis by using conventional simplified models of multistorey structures and of allowing the verification of the bounds set for the assumptions.

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