Lateral design in structural engineering refers to the design and analysis of a building or structure to resist wind, earthquake, and other lateral loads. This includes the design of the building’s lateral load-resisting systems, such as shear walls, diaphragms, and moment frames, as well as the design of the building’s lateral load-resisting elements, such as beams, columns, and connections. The goal of lateral design is to ensure that the building or structure can resist lateral forces without collapsing or suffering excessive damage.
