ACI STRUCTURAL JOURNAL

TECHNICAL PAPER

Title no. 96-S60

Design for Punching Shear Strength with ACI 318-95

by Amin Ghali and Sami Megally
Brittle punching failure of flat plates can occur due to the transfer
of shearing forces and unbalanced moments between slabs and
columns. Design of connections of columns to flat plates to insure
safety against punching failure is presented. This paper covers the
design procedure in most practical situations, including interior,
edge, and corner columns; prestressed and nonprestressed slabs;
slabs with openings; and slabs with shear reinforcement. The ACI
318-95 Building Code requirements are adhered to where applicable. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the
design procedure. Seismic design considerations are not discussed
in this paper.
Keywords: columns (supports); connections; flat concrete plates; prestressed concrete; punching shear; raft foundations; reinforced concrete;
shear strength; slabs; structural design.

INTRODUCTION
The punching shear resistance of concrete flat plates
frequently needs to be increased by the provision of drop
panels or by shear reinforcement. The latter solution is more
acceptable architecturally, and is often more economical.
This paper gives the details of punching shear design of flat
plates without drop panels, with or without shear reinforcement. Requirements of the ACI 318-951 Building Code for
design of slabs against punching are reviewed. The design
steps are presented, adhering to the code requirements when
they apply. Most conditions that occur in practice are considered for slabs with or without prestressing, including slabs with
openings in the column vicinity. Interior, edge, and corner
column-slab connections subjected to shear and moment
transfer are considered. The design steps are demonstrated by
computed examples. This paper presents a complete design
procedure for punching shear. Reference is made to an available
computer program that can be used for the design. When drop
panels are used, the design procedure for flat plates applies with
an additional provision that is also discussed.
The ACI 318-951 Building Code allows the use of shear
heads, in the form of steel I- or channel-shaped sections, as
shear reinforcement in slabs. Because at present this type is
rarely used, it will not be discussed here. The two most
common types of shear reinforcement are shown in Fig. 1.
To save space in this paper, the arrangements of the reinforcement with the two types are shown in a single top view
in Fig. 1(a). Fig. 1(b) and (c) are a pictorial view and a cross
section showing, respectively, details of conventional stirrups and stud shear reinforcement (SSR). The vertical legs of
the stirrups or the stems of the studs intersect the shear cracks
and prevent their widening (Fig. 2). Because the intersection
can occur at any section of the stirrup leg or the stud stem,
the leg or the stem should be as long as possible and must be
anchored as closely as possible to the top and bottom
surfaces of the slab (observing the cover requirements for
corrosion and fire protection).
Effective anchorage is essential to develop the yield
strength of the shear reinforcement of both types. With stirrups
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

Fig. 1Types of shear reinforcement considered: (a) shear

reinforcements (top view); (b) stirrups; and (c) stud shear
reinforcement alternate details (Section A-A).
[Fig. 1(b)], the anchorage is provided by hooks, bends, and
the longitudinal flexural reinforcing bar lodged at the
corners. Before the force in a stirrup leg reaches its yield
strength, the concrete inside the hooks or bends crushes or
ACI Structural Journal, V. 96, No. 4, July-August 1999.
Received October 13, 1997, and reviewed under Institute publication policies. Copyright 1999, American Concrete Institute. All rights reserved, including the making of copies
unless permission is obtained from the copyright proprietors. Pertinent discussion including
authors closure, if any, will be published in the May-June 2000 ACI Structural Journal if
the discussion is received by January 1, 2000.

539

ACI member Amin Ghali is a professor of civil engineering at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a member of ACI Committees 373, Circular Concrete
Structures Prestressed with Circumferential Tendons; and 435, Deflection of Concrete
Building Structures; and Joint ACI-ASCE Committees 343, Concrete Bridge Design;
and 421, Design of Reinforced Concrete Slabs.
ACI member Sami Megally is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary. He received his PhD from the University of Calgary in 1998 and his BSc from Ain-Shams University, Egypt, in 1988. His research
interests include structural analysis, the finite element method, and seismic design of
reinforced concrete structures.

enough to insure that the full yield strength of the stud can be
developed with negligible slip of the anchorage. Experiments
show that this can be achieved with anchor heads of area nine to
10 times the cross-sectional area of the stud.
RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE
This paper outlines the steps of design for punching shear
strength in accordance with ACI 318-95. However, the code
does not cover all situations encountered in practice. For
these situations, the design is based on research.
ACI 318-95 Code requirements
ACI 318-951 requires that at a critical section at d/2 from
column face (Fig. 3)
vu vn

(1)

where vn is the nominal shear stress; is the strength-reduction factor ( = 0.85); vu is the maximum shear stress caused
by the transfer of a factored shearing force Vu and bending
moments Mux and Muy between the slab and column and
acting at critical section centroid
Fig. 2Interception of cracks by vertical shear reinforcement.

vy M uy
vx M ux
V
v u = -------u- + ---------------y + ---------------x
bo d
Jx
Jy

(2)

where bo is length of perimeter of shear critical section; d is

the distance from extreme compression fiber to centroid of
longitudinal tension reinforcement; the subscripts x and y
refer to centroidal axes in directions of both spans; (x, y) are
coordinates of the point at which vu is maximum and J is a
property of critical section analogous to polar moment of
inertia. Figure 3 indicates the positive directions of x and y
axes, the force Vu , and moments Mux and Muy ; in this figure
and others in this paper, the arrows represent the directions
of force and moments exerted by the column on the slab. In
Fig. 3, x and y are replaced by x and y if they are principal
axes. vx and vy are fractions of the moments transferred by
eccentricity of shear about the x and y axes, respectively
1
v = 1 ------------------------------2
1 + --- b 1 b 2
3
Fig. 3Critical sections for two-way shear in slabs at d/2
from column face: (a) interior column; (b) edge column;
and (c) corner column.
splits, causing slip, thus preventing development of the full
strength of the stirrup, particularly in thin slabs. For this
reason, ACI 318R-951 emphasizes that stirrups can be used,
provided they are well-anchored, and requires that the stirrups
be closed and enclose a longitudinal bar at each corner
[Fig. 1(b)]. The Canadian Standard CSA-A23.3-942 does
not permit use of stirrups as shear reinforcement in slabs
thinner than 300 mm (12 in.).
The SSR relies on mechanical anchorage by heads at both
ends of the stem or by a head at one end and a steel strip welded
to several studs. The steel strip holds the studs in a vertical position and insures the appropriate spacing between them until the
concrete is cast. The size of the anchor heads must be large
540

(3)

ACI 318-951 defines b1 and b2, respectively, as widths of

shear critical section measured in direction of the span for
which moment is determined and perpendicular to it. Thus,
when calculating vy for the rectangular critical section
shown in Fig. 3(a), b1 and b2 are respectively equal to (c1 +
d) and (c2 + d). The code does not give an equation for v for
critical sections having shapes other than a closed rectangle.
In absence of shear reinforcement, the code requires that
the nominal shear stress of nonprestressed slabs be the
smallest of (using lb and in. units)
4- f
v n = v c = 2 + ---
c c

(4)

s d
v n = v c = -------- + 2 f c
bo

(5)

ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

v n = v c = 4 f c

(6)

where vc is the nominal shear stress provided by concrete; c

is ratio of long side to short side of column; fc is specified
concrete compressive strength; s = 40 for interior columns;
s = 30 for edge columns; and s = 20 for corner columns.
When vu > vn , slab thickness must be increased or shear
reinforcement provided. When shear reinforcement is used,
ACI 318-951 expresses the nominal shear stress as
v n = v c + v s 6 f c

(7)

v c = 2 f c

(8)

A v f yv
v s = ------------bo s

(9)

where vs is nominal shear stress provided by shear reinforcement; Av is area of shear reinforcement within a distance s;
fyv is specified yield strength of shear reinforcement; and s is
spacing of shear reinforcement. The upper limit for s is 0.5d.
Shear reinforcement must be extended for a sufficient
distance until the critical section outside the shear-reinforced
zone (Fig. 4) satisfies Eq. (1) with vn = vc = 2 f c .
Other provisions for prestressed slabs and slabs with openings
in the column vicinity will be discussed in the following
sections.
Prestressed slabs
For prestressed slabs with no shear reinforcement, ACI
318-951 replaces Eq. (4) to (6) by
v n = v c = p f c + 0.3f pc + V p b o d

(10)

where Vp is the vertical component of all effective prestress

forces crossing the critical section; fpc is average value of fpc
in two vertical slab sections in perpendicular directions, with
fpc being the compressive stress at section centroid after
allowance for all prestress losses; and p is the smaller of 3.5
and [(s d/bo) + 1.5]. Eq. (10) can replace Eq. (4) to (6) only
if the following conditions are satisfied: (a) no portion of the
cross section of the column shall be closer than four times the
slab thickness to a discontinuous edge; (b) fc shall not be
taken greater than 5000 psi; and (c) fpc in each direction shall
not be less than 125 psi nor be taken greater than 500 psi.
In thin slabs, it is difficult to control the slope of tendon
profile at the point it crosses a critical section. Thus, for practical
considerations, the last term in Eq. (10) may be neglected or
Vp reduced to account for the inaccuracy that can occur in the
execution of the tendon profile.
Within the shear-reinforced zone, vn is to be calculated
using the same equations as for nonprestressed slabs.
Section 11.5.4.1 of ACI 318-95 allows for prestressed
members, spacing of shear reinforcement, s to reach 0.75h
but not to exceed 24 in., where h is overall thickness of
member. It is considered here that this limit is excessive in
slabs, and it is recommended that the spacing should not
exceed 0.75d. This is because the difference between d and
h is more important in slabs than in beams and cracks could
bypass the shear reinforcement, as shown in Fig. 2.
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

Fig. 4Critical sections for two-way shear in slabs at d/2

from outermost peripheral line of shear reinforcement: (a)
interior column; (b) edge column; and (c) corner column.
Slabs with openings
ACI 318-951 requires that effect of openings on punching
shear resistance of a slab-column connection must be considered when openings are located at a distance less than 10 times
the slab thickness from the column or when openings are
located within the column strip. The effect of openings is taken
into account by considering part of shear critical section to be
ineffective. The ineffective part is that part of the critical
section perimeter that is enclosed by straight lines projecting
from the column centroid and tangent to the boundaries of the
openings (Example 3).
Optional values for fraction v for moment transfer
by shear
ACI 318-951 introduced for the first time Section 13.5.3.3,
which permits the option of reducing v from the value given
by Eq. (3), and increasing f by the same amount of reduction. The symbol f is the fraction of unbalanced moment
transferred by flexure. For a corner column [Fig. 3(c)] or for
an edge column [Fig. 3(b), in absence of Mux], the coefficient
v can be reduced to zero provided that Vu 0.5Vc or
0.75Vc for a corner or edge column, respectively; where Vc
= vc bo d, with vc given by Eq. (4) to (6). For an interior
column or an edge column [Fig. 3(b), in absence of Muy], v
can be reduced to (1.25v by Eq. (3) - 0.25), provided that Vu
0.4Vc . For all slab-column connections, the optional
reduction of v below the value given by Eq. (3) is allowed
only when 0.375b ; where is the ratio of nonpre541

where so is the distance between first peripheral line of studs

and column face.
ACI 421.1R-9214 considers a vertical branch of a stirrup to
be less effective than a stud in controlling shear cracks
because the stud stem is straight over its full length while the
ends of the stirrup branch are curved, and the mechanical
anchors at the stud ends insure that the yield strength is available at all sections of the stem; this is not the case with a
vertical branch of a stirrup.
For the same reasons, the Canadian Standard CSA-A23.3942 allows, in presence of shear studs, a value of vc 1-1/2
times the allowable value when stirrups are employed. The
same approach is adopted in the remainder of the paper.
Thus, when SSR is used, Eq. (7) and (8) will be replaced by
v n = v c + v s 8 f c

(12)

v c = 3 f c

(13)

with

Fig. 5Stud shear reinforcement arrangement: (a) rectangular

columns; (b) orthogonal arrangement at circular columns;
and (c) radial arrangement at circular columns.
stressed tension reinforcement in the slab; and b is the value
of producing balanced strain conditions.
The authors consider Section 13.5.3.3 unsafe. The justifications are given in the discussion of the code.3 Additional
experimental data4-7 for interior columns giving further justification of this opinion are given in Appendix A.*
Allowable values for nominal shear stress and
spacing of stud shear reinforcement
Because of the superiority of anchorage of the SSR, justified by tests,8-13 ACI 421.1R-9214 suggests the following
deviations from ACI 318 when SSR is used:
1) The nominal shear stress vn resisted by concrete and
shear reinforcement [Eq. (7)] can be as high as 8 f c ,
instead of 6 f c . This enables use of thinner slabs;
2) The upper limits for so and s can be based on the value
of vu at the critical section at d/2 from column face
so 0.5d and s 0.75d when v u 6 f c
so 0.35d and s 0.5d when v u 6 f c

Parameter J
The Code Commentary ACI 318R-951 gives an equation
for the parameter J when the shear critical section has the
rectangular shape shown in Fig. 3(a). The code commentary
equation may be written in the form
Jy = Iy + d 3(c1 + d)/6

(14)

(11.1)
(11.2)

*
The Appendix is available in xerographic or similar form from ACI headquarters,
where it will be kept permanently on file, at a charge equal to the cost of reproduction
plus handling at time of request.

542

Arrangement of shear reinforcement

Figure 5(a) shows the typical arrangement of stud shear
reinforcement at rectangular columns. Each group of studs
on a line perpendicular to the column face are welded to a
steel strip or spaced in a steel trough [Fig. 1(c)]. ACI 421.1R9214 recommends that, in a direction parallel to the column
face, the maximum distance g between the steel strips, or
troughs, be less than 2d. This limitation is to insure that the
studs confine the concrete and prevent widening of shear
cracks over the perimeter of the critical section.
Stud rails can be arranged in two orthogonal directions
[Fig. 5(b)] or radial directions [Fig. 5(c)] in the vicinity of
circular columns. The distance g between stud rails in the
vicinity of circular columns should not exceed 2d as shown
in Fig. 5(b) and (c). The authors recommend the orthogonal
rather than the radial arrangement of stud rails. This is
because with the radial arrangement of stud rails, shear studs
placed in the forms in their appropriate design locations are
more likely to interfere with the bars of the flexural reinforcement mesh.
When stirrups are used, they should be placed in rows
parallel to the column [Fig. 1(a)]. In the direction parallel to
the column faces, the distance g between stirrup legs [Fig.
1(b)] should satisfy the requirement g 2d, or because stirrups are less effective than shear studs, a more restrictive
limit should apply.

where Iy is the second moment of area of the critical section

about the y axis. It can be verified that with the column sizes
and slab thicknesses used in practice, the difference (Jy Iy),
which is equal to the second term in Eq. (14), does not
exceed 3 percent of Iy . ACI 318-95 and its commentary
define J as an analogous to polar moment of inertia and do
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

Fig. 6Equations for v applicable for critical sections at d/2 from column face and
outside shear-reinforced zone.
not give equations for J when the critical section has shapes
other than rectangular.
The vertical shear stress vu calculated by Eq. (2) has a
vertical resultant component equal to Vu , but has moment
components slightly smaller than vx Mux and vy Muy . In other
words, the component Vu combined with vx Mux and vy Muy
are not in equilibrium with the shear stress in the critical
section. Replacing Jx and Jy in Eq. (2) by the critical section
areas second moments Ix and Iy about the centroidal principal axes x and y, respectively, gives linearly varying stress
vu , whose resultants exactly satisfy equilibrium. With this
replacement, the equation for the shear stress vu at any point
of the critical section becomes
vy M uy
vx M ux
V
v u = -------u- + ---------------y + ---------------x
bo d
Ix
Iy

1
vx = 1 ----------------------------2
1 + --- l y l x
3
1
vy = 1 ----------------------------2
1 + --- l x l y
3

(16)

(17)

At edge columns
(15)

This equation applies when the critical section has any shape.
Use of this equation avoids the ambiguity in calculating the
parameter J, which has no known meaning in mechanics.
Coefficient v
Numerous experiments have shown that the empirical Eq. (3)
adopted by ACI 318-95 is satisfactory for interior columns
where the critical section, at d/2 from column faces, has the
shape of the perimeter of a closed rectangle. At the same location, the critical section for edge and corner columns has three
or two sides, respectively [Fig. 3(b) and (c)]. Outside the
shear-reinforced zone, the critical section follows the perimeter of a closed or open polygon, whose sides are not all
parallel to a column face (Fig. 4). Problems arise15 when the
empirical Eq. (3), allowed by ACI 318-95 for critical sections
having the shape of a closed rectangle, is employed for corner
columns. Similar design problems may arise when employing
Eq. (3) for edge columns.
Elgabry and Ghali16 showed by numerous finite element
analyses that Eq. (3) does not apply for all cases and for all
critical sections. They gave the following equations for v to
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

cover all cases and all shapes of the critical section encountered in design (Fig. 6).
At interior columns

vx = same as Eq. (16)

(18)

l
1
vy = 1 ----------------------------------------------- when ----x < 0.2, vy = 0 (19)
2
ly
1 + --- ( l x l y ) 0.2
3
At corner columns
vx = 0.4

(20)

vy = same as Eq. (19)

(21)

where lx and ly are projections of the critical section on principal axes x and y, respectively.
The safety of design using the above equations has been
verified using published experimental results.16
Inclined axes
The shear critical sections for corner columns, and for all
columns when the slab has nonsymmetric openings, have
principal axes x and y inclined to the column faces. In these
cases, it may be more convenient to calculate the shear stress at
543

Fig. 8i-th segment of shear critical section.

Fig. 7Transformation of moments: (a) use of Eq. (23) and

(24); and (b) use of Eq. (34) and (35).

points with coordinates (x, y) referring to centroidal but nonprincipal axes using the following equation to replace Eq. (2)
M x I y M y I xy
M y I x M x I xy
V
v u = -------u- + -----------------------------y
+
- x

-----------------------------bo d I I I 2
I I I2
x y

xy

x y

(22)

xy

where Mx and My are statical equivalents of vx Mux and vy

Muy given by [Fig. 7(a)]

Ix =

Mx = vx Mux cos + vx Muysin

(23)

My = vx Mux sin + vy Muycos

(24)

(25)

da ; I y =

da ; I xy = xy da

where da is elemental area of the critical section.

In general, the periphery of shear critical section is
composed of straight segments. The values of Ix y , Ix , and Iy
of the critical section may be determined by summation of
the contributions of straight segments
m

I xy =

i=1

I xyi ; I x =

i=1

I xi ; I y =

Iyi

(26)

i=1

where m is the total number of segments, and i refers to the

i-th segment. A typical straight segment AB is shown in Fig. 8;
its contributions to Ix y , Ix , and Iy may be calculated by
2

2 12

( l ) AB = [ ( x B x A ) + ( y B y A ) ]
544

(27)

d ( l ) AB
( I xy ) AB = --------------( 2x A y A + 2x B y B + x A y B + x B y A )
6

(28)

d ( l ) AB 2
2
( I x ) AB = --------------( yA + yB + yA yB )
3

(29)

d ( l ) AB 2
2
( I y ) AB = --------------( xA + xB + xA xB )
3

(30)

where d is effective depth; (xA , yA) and (xB , yB) are the coordinates of the segment ends A and B.
The angle between the principal x axis and the x axis is
given by
tan2 = 2Ixy/(Ix Iy)

(31)

The positive sign convention for is indicated in Fig. 7.

The equations presented in this section apply when the x
and y axes are principal or not. But, when they are principal,
x x; y y; Ix y = 0; = 0, and Eq. (22) reduces to Eq. (15).
Design steps
The data required for design of slab-column connections
are: d, c1, c2, Vu , MuxO, MuyO, and fc [Fig. 3(a) and (b)]. It is
required to determine whether d is sufficient for safety
against punching without the use of shear reinforcement
and if not, design the necessary shear reinforcement. The
symbols MuxO and MuyO are the unbalanced moments at the
column centroid. When working with nonprincipal axes x,
y [Fig. 3(c)], the given moments will be MuxO and MuyO and
Steps 1 and 2 of the design given below will be changed.
The first critical section to be considered is at d/2 from
the column face. The steps of design when x and y are principal axes are:
Step 1Replace Vu , MuxO, and MuyO by their statical
equivalents Vu , Mux , and Muy at the centroid of the critical
section considered [Fig. 3(a) and (b) or 4(a) and (b)]
M ux = M uxO + V u y O ; M uy = M uyO + V u x O

(32)

where xO and yO are coordinates of the column centroid.

Appropriate signs for the force and moments must be used;
the positive sign convention is indicated in Fig. 3.
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

Step 2Using the applicable equation for v selected

from Fig. 6, determine vx and vy . Calculate vu by Eq. (15).
Step 3If vu vn [given by Eq. (4) to (6)], no shear
reinforcement is required. If (vu /) > vn limit , d must be
increased; where vn limit = 6 f c or 8 f c when stirrups or
studs are used as shear reinforcement, respectively. When
vn < vu/ vn limit , go to Step 4.
Step 4Select Av and s such that Eq. (1) is satisfied.
When conventional stirrups are used, vn is determined
using Eq. (7) to (9). When stud shear reinforcement is used,
use Eq. (12), (13), and (9).
Step 5Extend the shear reinforcement zone by
increasing the number of peripheral lines of studs. Repeat
Steps 1 and 2 for a critical section at d/2 outside the outermost peripheral line of shear reinforcement (Fig. 4). If vu
2 f c , extension of shear reinforcement is sufficient; if
not, extend the shear reinforcement farther away from
column and repeat Steps 1 and 2 until this requirement is
satisfied.
Revision of Steps 1 and 2 when nonprincipal axes
are used
Step 1 revisedReplace Vu, MuxO, and MuyO by their statical equivalents Vu, Mux and Muy at the centroid of the critical
section considered [Fig. 3(c) or 4(c)]
M ux = M uxO + V u y O ; M uy = M uyO + V u x O

(33)

where xO and yO are coordinates of the column centroid.

Step 2 revisedTransform Mux and Muy to their statical equivalents Mux and Muy in directions of principal axes [Fig. 7(b)]
M ux = M ux cos M uy sin

(34)

M uy = M ux sin + M uy cos

(35)

Using the appropriate equation for v selected from Fig. 6,

determine vx and vy . Apply Eq. (23), (24), and (22) to
calculate vu .

Fig. 9Arrangement of shear studs in vicinity of interior

column in Example 1.
Step 1Vu = 110 kips; Mux = 400 kip-in.; and Muy = 250
kip-in.
Step 2Properties of the critical section at d/2 from
column face: bo = 87 in.; Ix = 50.20 103 in.4; Iy = 28.68
103 in.4; vx = 0.445; vy = 0.356 [Fig. 6 or Eq. (16) and (17)].
The maximum shear stress is at the point (8.9, 12.9) [Eq. (15)]
3

110 10 - 0.445 ( 400 10 ) ( 12.9 )

v u = ---------------------+ ---------------------------------------------------------- +
3
87 ( 5.75 )
50.20 10
3

Computer program STDESIGN

An available computer program, STDESIGN,17 which follows
the above mentioned procedure, can be employed for
punching shear design to reduce the time consumed by
designers. The program designs stud shear reinforcement
when shear reinforcement is required. It is usable on IBM
compatible microcomputers.
DESIGN EXAMPLES
This section of the paper demonstrates the design procedure mentioned earlier by means of numerical examples of
connection of a flat plate with interior and edge rectangular
columns. The following data are valid for all the columns
considered here: c1 = 12 in.; c2 = 20 in.; slab thickness = 7 in.;
concrete cover = 0.75 in.; normal weight concrete is used; f c
= 4000 psi; fyv = 50 ksi; stud shear reinforcement is used with
diameter 3/8 in.; flexural reinforcement bar diameter = 1/2 in.;
d = 7 - 0.75 - 0.5 = 5.75 in.

0.356 ( 250 10 ) ( 8.9 )

------------------------------------------------------ = 293 psi
3
28.68 10
Step 3vn = 253 psi [Eq. (6)]; vu > vn (= 215 psi); shear
reinforcement is required.
Step 4Select 3/8-in. diameter studs with the arrangement shown in Fig. 9.
vu/ = 345 psi < 6 f c (= 379 psi); so 0.5d; s 0.75d.
Select so = 2.25 in.; s = 4 in.; Av = 1.104 in.2; vs = 159 psi
[Eq. (9)]; vc = 190 psi [Eq. (13)].
vn = 190 + 159 = 349 psi < 8 f c (= 506 psi) [Eq. (12)].
vu < vn (= 297 psi); shear reinforcement is adequate.
Step 5Properties of critical section at d/2 from the outermost peripheral line of studs: bo = 208.9 in.; Ix = 669.5 103
in.4; Iy = 575.1 103 in.4; vx = 0.415; vy = 0.386 [Fig. 6 or
Eq. (16) and (17)].
The maximum shear stress is at (7.2, 35.1) in. [Eq. (15)]
3

Example 1: Interior column (Fig. 9)

Given: Vu = 110 kips; MuxO = 400 kip-in.; MuyO = 250 kip-in.
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

0.415 ( 400 10 ) ( 35.1 )

110 10
v u = ----------------------------- + ---------------------------------------------------------+
3
208.9 ( 5.75 )
669.5 10
545

Fig. 10Arrangement of shear studs in vicinity of edge

column in Example 2.
3

0.386 ( 250 10 ) ( 7.2 )

------------------------------------------------------ = 101 psi < 2 f c ( = 108 psi )
3
575.1 10
This indicates that the extension of the shear-reinforced
zone is adequate (Fig. 9).
Example 2: Edge column (Fig. 10)
Given: Vu = 60 kips; MuxO = 0; MuyO = 820 kip-in.
Step 1The above forces act at column centroid O
whose coordinates are (-4.9, 0.0) in. Statical equivalent
forces at critical section centroid are: Vu = 60 kips; Mux = 0;
Muy = 527 kip-in.
Step 2Properties of the critical section at d/2 from
column face: bo = 55.5 in.; Iy = 7.544 103 in.4; vy = 0.291
[Fig. 6 or Eq. (19)].
The maximum shear stress is at (4.0, 12.9) in. [Eq. (15)]
3

0.291 ( 527 10 ) ( 4.0 )

60 10
v u = -------------------------- + ------------------------------------------------------ = 269 psi
3
55.5 ( 5.75 )
7.544 10
Step 3vn = 253 psi [Eq. (6)]; vu > vn (= 215 psi); shear
reinforcement is required.
Step 4Select 3/8-in.-diameter studs with the arrangement shown in Fig. 10.
vu/ = 316 psi < 6 f c (= 379 psi); so 0.5d; s 0.75d.
Select so = 2.25 in.; s = 4 in.; Av = 0.773 in.2; vs = 174 psi
[Eq. (9)]; vc = 190 psi [Eq. (13)].
vn = 190 + 174 = 364 psi < 8 f c (= 506 psi) [Eq. (12)].
vu < vn (= 309 psi); shear reinforcement is adequate.
Step 5Properties of critical section at d/2 from the outermost peripheral line of studs: bo = 105.1 in.; Iy = 64.83 103
in.4; vy = 0.278 [Fig. 6 or Eq. (19)].
546

Fig. 11Interior column with opening in its vicinity in

Example 3: (a) effective critical section at d/2 from column
face; and (b) arrangement of shear studs and effective critical section outside shear-reinforced zone.
The coordinates of column centroid O are (15.1, 0.0) in.
Statical equivalent forces at critical section centroid are: Vu
= 60 kips; Mux = 0; Muy = -87 kip-in. The maximum shear
stress is at (21.1, 31.1) in. [Eq. (15)]
3

3
60 10 - 0.278 ( 87 10 ) ( 21.1 )
v u = ---------------------------+ ------------------------------------------------------------3
105.1 ( 5.75 )
( 64.83 10 )

= 107 psi < 2 f c ( = 108 psi )

This indicates that the extension of the shear-reinforced
zone is adequate (Fig. 10).
Example 3: Interior column near slab opening
(Fig. 11)
Given Vu = 110 kips; MuxO = 400 kip-in.; MuyO = 250 kip-in.
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

Fig. 12Drop panels and shear capitals.

Step 1The above forces act at column centroid O whose
coordinates are (1.2, 0.9) in. Statical equivalent forces at
critical section centroid are: Vu = 110 kips; Mux = 301 kip-in.;
Muy = 118 kip-in. [Eq. (33)].
Step 2Properties of the critical section at d/2 from
column face: bo = 76.6 in.; Ix = 46.67 103 in.4; Iy = 23.36
103 in.4; Ix y = 3.992 103 in.4
The projections of critical section on principal axes x and
y are 21.7 in. and 28.3 in., respectively. Eq. (16) and (17)
give: vx = 0.432; vy = 0.369. Transform Mux and Muy to principal directions [Eq. (34) and (35)]: Mux = 278 kip-in.; Muy =
166 kip-in. The parts of these moments transferred by eccentricity of shear: vx Mux = 120 kip-in. and vy Muy = 61.2 kipin. Transform these moments to the x and y directions [Eq. (23)
and (24)]: Mx = 128 kip-in., and My = 40.7 kip-in.
The maximum shear stress is at the point (7.7, 12 in.)
[Eq. (22)]
3

110 10 - 128 ( 23.36 ) 40.7 ( 3.992 )

v u = ------------------------+ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ( 12 )
76.6 ( 5.75 ) 46.67 ( 23.36 ) ( 3.992 ) 2
40.7 ( 46.67 ) 128 ( 3.992 )
+ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ( 7.7 ) = 302 psi
2
46.67 ( 23.36 ) ( 3.992 )
Step 3vn = 253 psi [Eq. (6)]; vu > vn (= 215 psi); shear
reinforcement is required.
Step 4Select 3/8-in.-diameter studs with the arrangement shown in Fig. 11(b).
vu/ = 355 psi < 6 f c (= 379 psi); so 0.5d; s 0.75d.
Select so = 2.25 in.; s = 4 in.; Av = 1.104 in. 2; vs = 180 psi
[Eq. (9)].
vc = 190 psi [Eq. (13)].
vn = 190 + 180 = 370 psi < 8 f c (= 506 psi) [Eq. (12)].
vu < vn (= 315 psi); shear reinforcement is adequate.
Step 5Properties of the critical section at d/2 from the
outermost peripheral line of shear studs:
bo = 204.5 in.; Ix = 843.6 103 in.4; Iy = 635.0 103 in.4;
Ix y = -80.99 103 in.4.
The projections of critical section on principal axes x and
y are 73.7 in. and 78.7 in., respectively. Eq. (16) and (17)
give: vx = 0.408; vy = 0.392. The coordinates of column
centroid are (3.8, 2.2) in. Statical equivalent forces at critical section centroid are: Vu = 110 kip; Mux = 158 kip-in.; and
Muy = 168 kip-in. Following the same procedure as for the
critical section at d/2 from column face, the maximum shear
stress vu = 98 psi < 2 f c (= 108 psi). This indicates that the
extension of the shear-reinforced zone is adequate [Fig. 11(b)].
ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999

Fig. 13Arrangement of shear studs in raft foundations and

walls.
Circular columns
The punching shear design steps described earlier in this
paper are applicable for connections of slabs with circular
columns. The circular column cross section is replaced by a
square section so that the critical section at d/2 from the
square column face will have the same perimeter length as
for the critical section for the circular column.
Slabs with drop panels and shear capitals
A common solution used in practice to augment the
punching shear strength of slab-column connections is to
increase the slab thickness around the columns; this can be
achieved by use of drop panels [Fig. 12(a)]. When drop
panels are used, two critical sections must be investigated for
punching shear strength, at d1/2 from column face and at d2/2
outside the drop panel, where d1 and d2 are effective depths
of the slab inside and outside the drop panel, respectively.
The two critical sections are checked following the design
steps mentioned earlier. Plan dimensions are selected so that
Eq. (1) is satisfied at the critical section outside the drop
panel with vu determined by Eq. (15) and vn = vc = 2 f c .
Figure 12(b) shows what is known in practice as shear
capital. It differs from drop panel in the plan dimensions. The
shear capital is commonly small in size and is provided with no
reinforcement other than the vertical bars of the column. The
punching design is based on a critical section at d/2 outside the
shear capital with the nominal shear stress vn given by Eq. (4) to
(6). Recent experiments18 show that the punching failure with
this type of capitals can be extremely brittle; therefore, this practice is not recommended by the authors.
Other applications of stud shear reinforcement
Stud shear reinforcement can be used and designed using the
above equations to resist punching in raft foundations, footings,
and in walls subjected to concentrated horizontal forces (e.g.,
offshore structures). Fig. 13(a) represents the arrangement of
547

shear studs in the vicinity of a column in a raft foundation; the

studs are mechanically anchored by heads at the top and by a
steel strip at the bottom similar to Fig. 1(c).
Figure 13(b) shows arrangement of shear studs with respect
to other reinforcement in a wall. The figure can represent a
vertical or a horizontal section. It is to be noted that the studs
have double heads situated in the same plane as the outermost
flexural reinforcement. Thus, the overall length of the studs,
including the heads, should ideally be equal to the wall thickness minus the sum of the specified cover at the two wall faces.
CONCLUSIONS
A complete design procedure for slab-column connections
against punching shear is presented. This design procedure
satisfies the requirements of the ACI 318-95 Building Code.
Equations based on research are used in the design procedure
of practical design situations not covered by the ACI 318-95
Code. Design examples are presented. The design can be
simplified by use of an available computer program.

vn
vs
vu
Vc

=
=
=
=

Vp

Vu
x, y

=
=

x, y

s
c
p
v

=
=
=
=

=
=
=

shear reinforcement
nominal shear stress of critical section
nominal shear stress provided by shear reinforcement
maximum shear stress at critical section due to applied forces
pure shear capacity of slab-column connection with no
shear reinforcement
vertical component of effective prestress forces crossing
critical section
applied shearing force at failure
coordinates of point of maximum shear stress in critical
section with respect to centroidal principal axes x and y
coordinates of point of maximum shear stress in critical section
with respect to centroidal nonprincipal axes x, y
factor which adjusts vc for support type
ratio of long side to short side of concentrated load or reaction area
constant used to compute vc in prestressed slabs
fraction of unbalanced moment transferred by eccentricity
of shear at slab-column connections
angle of inclination of principal axes x and y with respect to
centroidal axes x, y, respectively
ratio of nonprestressed tension reinforcement
reinforcement ratio producing balanced strain conditions
strength reduction factor = 0.85

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

This study was funded by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada that is gratefully acknowledged.

1. ACI Committee 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural

Concrete (ACI 318-95) and Commentary, American Concrete Institute,
Farmington Hills, Mich., 1995, 369 pp.
2. Canadian Standards Association, Design of Concrete Structures
(CSA-A23.3-94), Dec. 1994, 199 pp.
3. Ghali, A., and Megally, S., Discussion of Proposed Revisions to
Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-89)
(Revised 1992) and Commentary (ACI 318R-89) (Revised 1992),
Concrete International, V. 17, No. 7, July 1995, pp. 77-82.
4. Wey, E. H., and Durrani, A. J., Seismic Response of Interior SlabColumn Connections with Shear Capitals, ACI Structural Journal, V. 89,
No. 6, Nov.-Dec. 1992, pp. 682-691.
5. Pan, A. D., and Moehle, J. P., Experimental Study of SlabColumn Connections, ACI Structural Journal, V. 89, No. 6, Nov.-Dec.
1992, pp. 626-638.
6. Robertson, I. N., and Durrani, A. J., Gravity Load Effect on Seismic
Behavior of Interior Slab-Column Connections, ACI Structural Journal,
V. 89, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1992, pp. 37-45.
7. Islam, S., and Park, R., Tests on Slab-Column Connections with
Shear and Unbalanced Flexure, ASCE Journal of Structural Division, V.
102, No. 3, Mar. 1976, pp. 549-568.
8. Dilger, W. H., and Ghali, A., Shear Reinforcement for Concrete
Slabs, Proceedings, ASCE, V. 107, ST12, Dec. 1981, pp. 2403-2420.
9. Andr, H. P., Strength of Flat Slabs Reinforced with Stud Rails in the
Vicinity of the Supports (Zum Tragverhalten von Flachdecken mit DubelliestenBewchruing im Auflogerbereich), Beton-und Stahlbetonbau,
Berlin, V. 76, No. 3, Mar. 1981, pp. 53-57, and V. 76, No. 4, Apr. 1981,
pp. 100-104.
10. Mokhtar, A. S.; Ghali, A.; and Dilger, W. H., Stud Shear Reinforcement for Flat Concrete Plates, ACI Structural Journal, V. 82, No. 5, Sept.Oct. 1985, pp. 676-683.
11. Elgabry, A. A., and Ghali, A., Tests on Concrete Slab-Column
Connections with Stud Shear Reinforcement Subjected to Shear-Moment
Transfer, ACI Structural Journal, V. 84, No. 5, Sept.-Oct. 1987, pp. 433-442.
12. Mortin, J., and Ghali, A., Connection of Flat Plates to Edge Columns,
ACI Structural Journal, V. 88, No. 2, Mar.-Apr. 1991, pp. 191-198.
13. Dilger, W. H., and Shatila, M., Shear Strength of Prestressed
Concrete Edge Slab-Column Connections with and without Stud Shear
Reinforcement, Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, V. 16, No. 6,
1989, pp. 807-819.
14. ACI Committee 421, Shear Reinforcement for Slabs (ACI 421.1R92), American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich., 1993, 11 pp.
15. Elgabry, A. A., and Ghali, A., Transfer of Moments between
Columns and Slabs: Proposed Code Revisions, ACI Structural Journal,
V. 93, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1996, pp. 56-61.
16. Elgabry, A. A., and Ghali, A., Moment Transfer by Shear in SlabColumn Connections, ACI Structural Journal, V. 93, No. 2, Mar.-Apr.
1996, pp. 187-196.
17. Ghali, A., (revised by N. Hammill, 1995), Computer Program
STDESIGN, Decon, Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
18. Megally, S., Punching Shear Resistance of Concrete Slabs to
Gravity and Earthquake Forces, PhD dissertation, Department of Civil
Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 1998, 468 pp.

CONVERSION FACTORS
1 in.
1 ft
1 kip
1 ft-kip
1 psi
f c , psi

=
=
=
=
=
=

25.4 mm
0.3048 m
4.448 kN
1.356 kN-m
6.89 10-3 MPa
0.083 f c , MPa

NOTATION
Av

= cross-sectional area of shear reinforcement on line parallel

to perimeter of column
= width of critical section for shear, at d/2 from column face,
b1
measured in direction of span for which moments are
determined
= width of critical section for shear, at d/2 from column face,
b2
measured in direction perpendicular to b1
bo
= length of perimeter of critical section
c1, c2
= dimensions of column measured in two span directions
d
= effective depth of slab
= effective depths of slab inside and outside drop panel,
d1, d2
respectively
fc
= specified compressive strength of concrete
fpc
= compressive stress in concrete (after allowance for all prestress losses) at centroid of cross section resisting externally
applied loads
= specified yield strength of shear reinforcement
fyv
g
= spacing between stirrup vertical branches or shear studs in
direction parallel to column face
h
= slab thickness
= second moments of area of critical section about principal
I x , Iy
axes x and y, respectively
I x . Iy
= second moments of area of critical section about axes x and
y, respectively
Ix y
= product of inertia of area of critical section about axes x and y
J
= property of shear critical section defined by ACI 318-95
Code as analogous to the polar moment of inertia
lx , ly
= projections of critical section on principal axes x and y,
respectively.
Mux , Muy = factored unbalanced moments transferred between slab and
column about principal axes x and y, respectively, at critical
section centroid
Mux , Muy = factored unbalanced moments transferred between slab and
column about nonprincipal axes x and y, respectively, at critical
section centroid
MuxO , MuyO,= factored unbalanced moments transferred between slab and
MuxO , MuyO column about axes x, y, x and y, respectively, at column centroid
s
= spacing between peripheral lines of shear reinforcement
= spacing between first peripheral line of shear reinforcement
so
and column face
= nominal shear stress provided by concrete in presence of
vc

548

ACI Structural Journal/July-August 1999