Bearing Wall Systems
This is the probably the most traditional structural system that has been used in the erection of tall buildings. It consists of vertical structural elements which carry the loads directly to foundations. The common building materials were stone, brick of all sorts, and now reinforced concrete. The height of the structure is limited mostly by the strength of the bearing materials. At some point, the compressive stress due to the accumulated weight of the walls themselves plus the other dead and live loads surpasses the bearing capacity of the wall. Or, the wall becomes so thick that lower floors can no longer function.
This system depends upon its massive weight to resist lateral loading. This works be keeping the resultant of all loads passing through the "kern" of the foundations. In this way, the tensile forces remain at, or very close to, zero. Bearing Wall systems are commonly used in apartments in which the spans between walls is relatively small.
Next Structural System 
© 1996 Chris H. Luebkeman