Comparative Analysis of Multi-Storeyed Reinforced Concrete Buildings Designed Manually and Using STAAD. Pro with Shear Wall Configurations on Hard Soil

Abstract

The rapid growth of urban infrastructure has increased the demand for economical, safe, and efficient design of 
multi-storeyed reinforced concrete (RCC) buildings. Traditional manual design methods provide a fundamental 
understanding of structural behaviour but require extensive calculations and considerable time. Modern 
structural analysis software such as STAAD.Pro enables engineers to perform accurate analysis, optimize 
structural members, and evaluate building performance under various loading conditions. This study presents a 
comparative investigation of a multi-storeyed RCC building on hard soil designed using both manual calculations 
and STAAD.Pro in accordance with the relevant Indian Standard codes. The comparison includes the design of 
structural components such as slabs, beams, columns, and foundations under dead, live, and wind loads. In 
addition, the influence of shear wall location on the structural behaviour of the building is evaluated by 
considering inner-core and outer-perimeter shear wall configurations. The analytical performance of both models 
is compared using parameters including storey displacement, storey drift, base shear, bending moments, shear 
forces, axial forces, and overall structural stability. The study demonstrates that STAAD.Pro provides reliable 
and efficient structural analysis while significantly reducing design time. Furthermore, the provision of properly 
located shear walls enhances lateral stiffness, minimizes storey displacement and drift, and improves the overall 
seismic and wind resistance of multi-storeyed buildings constructed on hard soil.