Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

With the nominal shear strength of the concrete, , deter- ℓ�

mined by ACI Equation (22.5.5.1) [that is, ] ℓ � ⁄2
and assuming , the minimum to satisfy
one-way shear requirements in a one-way slab can be deter-
mined by the following equation:

(3.9)

12��
The critical section for one-way shear in a two-way slab
system is defined in ACI 8.4.3 and is illustrated in Figure 3.3
for a flat plate where the requirements of ACI 8.4.3.2 are sat-
isfied. The minimum slab thickness to satisfy one-way shear 𝑑𝑑
strength requirements in this case can be determined by the
following equation: Critical
section
(3.10)

where is the width of the slab that resists the shear force,
which is equal to for the case shown in Figure 3.3. For Figure 3.2 Critical Section for One-way Shear in a One-way Slab System
gravity loads, is equal to the factored distributed gravity
load, , times the tributary area indicated in Figure 3.3, that
is, .

One-way shear requirements must also be checked in the ℓ�  

perpendicular direction to that shown in Figure 3.3. It is rare
for one-way shear to govern in a two-way slab system.

3.4.3 Two-way Shear Critical section

The two-way shear requirements in ACI 8.4.4 must be satis-

𝑐𝑐�  
fied for two-way slab systems. Where column-line beams
are present, these requirements rarely govern. For systems
𝑐𝑐�  
ℓ�  

without beams, such as flat plates, the thickness of the slab

may have to be greater than that required for serviceability to
𝑑𝑑 
satisfy these requirements. For slabs without shear rein-
forcement, factored shear stresses, , at the critical sec-
tions defined in ACI 22.6.4 must be less than or equal to the
design two-way shear strength, , of the concrete where
is defined in ACI Table 22.6.5.2:

Tributary area

 
(3.11)   Figure 3.3 Critical Section for One-way Shear in a Flat Plate System
 
 
 
where

modification factor that reflects the reduced mechanical

  properties of lightweight concrete relative to normal-
weight concrete of the same compressive strength (see ACI Table 19.2.4.2)
 
ratio of long to short dimensions of the sides of a  column, concentrated load, or reaction area

40 for interior columns (four-sided critical section); 30 for edge columns (three-sided critical section); and 20 for


corner columns (two-sided critical section)

perimeter of critical section for two-way shear (see ACI 22.6.4)

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

The critical section for two-way shear at an interior column in ℓ�  

a flat plate system is illustrated in Figure 3.4.

The assumed distribution of two-way shear stresses due to

direct shear and eccentricity of shear in accordance with ACI
8.4.4 is illustrated in Figure 3.5. The maximum factored shear 𝑏𝑏�  
stresses, , on faces and of the critical section 𝑐𝑐�  
Critical section
can be determined by the following equations:
𝑐𝑐�   𝑏𝑏�  

ℓ�  
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 �t���� 

(3.12)

Tributary area 
where direct shear force on the column due to


gravity and lateral forces, where applicable Figure 3.4 Critical Section for Two-way Shear in a Flat Plate System

area of critical section

𝑏𝑏�   𝑣𝑣����
factor used to determine the fraction of
 𝑐𝑐�   𝑣𝑣����

transferred by eccentricity of shear D  A  Critical section

𝑐𝑐�   𝑏𝑏�  
(see ACI 8.4.4.2)
C  𝑐𝑐   𝑐𝑐   B  𝑐𝑐��   𝑐𝑐��  
�� ��

dimension of critical section measured paral- Interior Column



lel to the direction of analysis

𝑏𝑏�  
dimension of critical section measured per- 𝑣𝑣���� 𝑣𝑣����
 𝑐𝑐�  

pendicular to the direction of analysis A  Critical section

D 
slab moment resisted by the column due
 𝑐𝑐�   𝑏𝑏�  

to gravity and lateral forces, where ap-

plicable, transferred by a combination of C  𝑐𝑐��   𝑐𝑐��  
𝑐𝑐��   𝑐𝑐��  B 
flexure and eccentricity of shear
Edge Column
distance from the centroid of the critical


section to face AB Figure 3.5 Assumed Distribution of Shear Stresses Due to Direct Shear
and Eccentricity of Shear
distance from the centroid of the critical


section to face CD
𝐷𝐷
property of the critical section analogous to


the polar moment of inertia

Section properties of the critical section for two-way shear

are given in Table 3.4 for rectangular columns and in Figure
3.6 for interior circular columns. Shear strength requirements
𝐴𝐴� � ��𝐷𝐷 � 𝑑𝑑�𝑑𝑑
are generally more critical at edge and corner columns where 𝛾𝛾� 𝑀𝑀��
𝐷𝐷 � 𝑑𝑑
relatively large unbalanced moments cause relatively large 𝑐𝑐 � 𝑐𝑐 � �
2
factored shear stresses.
𝐽𝐽 𝐽𝐽 𝐷𝐷 � 𝑑𝑑 � 𝑑𝑑 �
� � �𝑑𝑑 � � �
In buildings assigned to SDC A, B, or C, two-way slab 𝑐𝑐 𝑐𝑐 � 2 3
𝑑𝑑

systems without beams are permitted to resist the effects

from wind and seismic forces. Load combinations must
include gravity and lateral force effects, where applicable,
when determining the maximum shear stress, in such
cases. Because two-way slab systems without beams are
not permitted to be part of the seismic force-resisting system Figure 3.6 Section Properties of the Critical Section for Interior Circular
(SFRS) in buildings assigned to SDC D, E, or F, includes Columns

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 Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Table 3.4 Section Properties of the Critical Section for Rectangular Columns

Case

1 2
𝑐𝑐�   𝑐𝑐�  

𝑐𝑐�   𝑐𝑐�  
𝐷𝐷  𝐷𝐷 
𝐶𝐶  𝐶𝐶 
Section 𝛾𝛾� 𝑀𝑀��   𝑐𝑐��   𝛾𝛾� 𝑀𝑀��   𝑐𝑐��  
Property 𝑐𝑐��  
𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� � � 
𝑐𝑐��  
𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� � 𝑑𝑑 
𝐴𝐴  𝐵𝐵  𝐴𝐴  𝐵𝐵 

𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� � �  𝑑𝑑
𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� �  
2

   
Case 1: Interior rectangular
  column  
Case 2: Edge rectangular  column bending parallel to the edge  
   
   
   
   
Table 3.4 – Continued
   

Case

3 4
𝑐𝑐�   𝑐𝑐�  

𝑐𝑐�   𝑐𝑐�  

𝐶𝐶  𝐷𝐷  𝐶𝐶  𝐷𝐷 

Section 𝑐𝑐��   𝑐𝑐��  
𝛾𝛾� 𝑀𝑀��   𝛾𝛾� 𝑀𝑀��  
Property 𝑑𝑑
𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� �  
𝑑𝑑
𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� �  
𝑐𝑐��   2 𝑐𝑐��   2
𝐴𝐴  𝐵𝐵  𝐴𝐴  𝐵𝐵 

𝑑𝑑
𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� � 𝑑𝑑  𝑏𝑏� � 𝑐𝑐� �  
2

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Case 3: Edge rectangular column bending perpendicular to the edge  
 
Case 4: Corner rectangular column bending perpendicular to the edge  
 
 

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

only gravity load effects (wind force effects in this case are resisted by the SFRS); however, the slab-column connection require-
ments of ACI 18.14.5 must be satisfied.

Figure 3.7 can be used to determine a preliminary slab thickness, , for flat plate systems subjected to gravity loads without
shear reinforcement where slab thickness is controlled by two-way shear requirements. The information
in the figure is based on the following assumptions:

• Square edge column of size bending perpendicular to the slab edge with a three-sided critical section
• Column supports a tributary area
• G
 ravity load moment transferred between the slab and the edge column in accordance with the Direct Design
Method of ACI 8.10
 
• Normalweight concrete with a compressive strength of 4,000 psi
 
The term is the factored
  distributed gravity load, which must include the slab weight; this weight can be estimated using a
slab thickness based on  serviceability requirements. The ratio is obtained from Figure 3.7 as a function of and the area
ratio  
. A preliminary slab thickness, , is obtained by adding 1.25 in. to .
 
 
0.90
 
A/c12 ��250

0.80
225

200
0.70

175

0.60
150
d/c1

0.50
125

0.40
100

0.30 75

0.20 50

0.10
200 250 300 350 400

qu ��psf

Figure 3.7 Preliminary Slab Thickness for Flat Plate Systems

In general, determining the thickness of a flat plate system based on two-way shear requirements for out-of-plane loads is an
iterative process: the requirements are initially checked using the slab thickness determined for serviceability requirements, and
if shear strength requirements are not satisfied, the slab thickness is increased until such requirements are satisfied.

It may be possible to satisfy two-way shear requirements using a slab thickness based on serviceability requirements if shear
reinforcement in accordance with ACI 22.6.7 (single- or multiple-leg stirrups) or ACI 22.6.8 (headed shear stud reinforcement)
is provided around the columns. Shear strength may also be increased by drop panels and shear caps but using these types of
elements may not always result in the most economical solution.

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