What term is used to describe the proportional relationship between load and structural response in shear walls?

The correct term describing the proportional relationship between load and structural response in shear walls is stiffness. Stiffness is defined as the resistance offered by a structural element to deformation when subjected to load. In the context of shear walls, which are critical components in resisting lateral forces from wind and seismic activity, stiffness is crucial as it determines how much the wall will deflect under a given load. The higher the stiffness, the less the deflection for a given load, indicating a stronger structural performance in maintaining stability and integrity.

Strength refers to the maximum load that a material or structure can withstand before failing, which is related but does not fully capture the relationship of interest in this context. Flexibility indicates how easily a structure can deform under load, representing the opposite of stiffness. Support generally pertains to the physical connections and interfaces where structural elements are anchored or held up, rather than their behavior under loading conditions. Thus, stiffness is the most accurate term to use in describing how shear walls respond to applied loads.