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3.6 Shear walls
Walls carrying vertical loads should be designed as columns. Basically walls are designed in
the same manner as columns, but there are a few differences. A wall is distinguished from a
column by having a length that is more than five times the thickness.
Plain concrete walls should have a minimum thickness of 120 mm. Where the load on the wall
is eccentric, the wall must have centrally placed reinforcement of at least 0.2 percent of the
cross-section area if the eccentricity ratio exceeds 0.20. This reinforcement may not be included
in the load-carrying capacity of the wall.
Shear walls should be designed as vertical cantilevers, and the reinforcement arrangement should be
checked as for a beam. Where the shear walls have returns at the compression end, they should be treated
as flanged beams.
If the walls contains openings, the assumption for beams that plane sections remain
plane is no longer valid. Shear walls connected by beams or floor slabs. The stability of shear-
wall structure is often provided by several walls connected together by beams or floors.
Where the walls are of uniform section throughout the height and are connected by regularly
spaced uniform beams. Many shear walls contain one or more rows of openings.

Figure 3.6-1: Building with shear walls

When walls are used to brace a framed structure, it may be acceptable to disregard the lateral
stiffness of the frame and assume the horizontal load carried entirely by the walls.

The equilibrium and compatibility equations at each level produces a set of simultaneous
equations which are solved to give the lateral deflection and rotation at each level.
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Figure 3.6-2: Shear walls subjected to bending moment and vertical load

If a tall building has an asymmetrical structural plan and is subjected to horizontal loading,
torsional as well as bending displacements will occur, and hence a full three-dimensional
analysis is required. In many tall building shear wall provide most, if not all, of the required strength
for lateral loading resulting from gravity, wind, and earthquake effects.

Figure 3.6-3
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The system (Hull - Core Structures) has been used for very tall buildings in both steel and
concrete. Lateral loads are resisted by both the hull and the core, their mode of interaction
depending on the design of the floor system.

Figure 3.6-4: Shear walls subjected to horizontal load and vertical load

A floor slabs of multi-story buildings, when effectively connected to the wall, acting as
stiffeners, provide adequate lateral strength. As essential prerequisites, adequate foundations
and sufficient connection to all floors, to transmit horizontal loads, must be assured.

Figure 3.6-5: side view of shearing wall shows the thickness of bearing wall in accordance
with boundary conditions of the members
Normally, for wind loading, the governing design criterion or limit state will be
deflection. Shear walls, when carefully designed and detailed, hold the promise of giving the
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 
greatest degree of protection against non-structural damage in moderate earthquakes, while
assuring survival in case of catastrophic seismic disturbances, on account of their ductility.

Yielding of the flexural bars will also affect the width of diagonal cracks. The shear
strength of tall shear walls may also be controlled by combined moment and shear failure at the
base of the wall. Door and service openings in shear walls introduce weaknesses that are not
confined merely to the consequential reduction in cross-section. Stress concentrations are
developed at the corners, and adequate reinforcement needs to be provided to cater for these
concentrations.
This reinforcement should take the form of diagonal bars positioned at the corners of the
openings. The reinforcement will generally be adequate if it is designed to resist a tensile force
equal to twice the shear force in the vertical components of the wall as shown, but should not
be less than two 16mm diameter bars across each corner of the opening.

Figure 3.6-6: Diagonal reinforcement in coupling beams, beam cross-section and possible
mechanisms involving openings
A single cantilever shear wall, such as the one shown in figure 3.6-7, can be expected to behave
in the same way as a reinforced concrete beam. The shear walls will be subjected to bending
moments and shear forces originating from lateral loads, and to axial compression induced by
gravity.

At the base of the wall, where yielding of the flexural reinforcement in both faces of the
section can occur, the contribution of the concrete towards shear strength should be disregarded
where the axial compression on the gross section is less than 12% of the cylinder crushing
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 
strength of the concrete. Sectional area of the concrete and should be equally divided between
the two faces of the wall. The maximum area of vertical reinforcement should not exceed 4%
of the gross cross-sectional area of the concrete. Horizontal reinforcement equal to not less than
half the area of vertical reinforcement should be provided between the vertical reinforcement
and the wall surface on both faces. The spacing of the vertical bars should not exceed the lesser
of 300mm or twice the wall thickness. The spacing of horizontal bars should not exceed 300mm
and the diameter should not be less than one-quarter of the vertical bars.

Figure 3.6-7: Geometry and reinforcement of typical shear wall

The prime function of the vertical reinforcement, passing across a construction joint, is to
supply the necessary clamping force and to enable friction forces to be transferred.

Figure 3.6-8: Geometry and reinforcement of shear wall in tall building

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Figure 3.6-9: Precast reinforced concrete walls

Figure 3.6-10: Shear subjected to lateral load

Figure 3.6-11: Shear walls with flexible coupling beams

Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Figure 3.6-12
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Figure 3.6-13
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Calculation of sectional forces and moments of structures

Example 3.6-1: Reinforced concrete wall subjected to horizontal load Ho or Wo
Construction height H = 27.5 m
Storey height l = 2.75 m
Sectional area of the first pillar 1 and A1 or 1 = 2 m2
Sectional area of the second pillar 2 and A2 or 2 = 1.6 m2
Moment of inertia of the first pillar I1 = 4 m4
Moment of inertia of the first pillar I2 = 2 m4
Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area
Structures weakened openings I = 39 M4
Moment of inertia of girders IPR = 0.006 m4
Modulus of elasticity of pillars E = 10 GPa
Modulus of elasticity of girder E´ = 20 GPa
Static moment of sectional area
Walls weakened with openings S = 5.42 m3
Shear force applied in base Construction Ho = 354 kN
The distance between the center of gravity of the pillars 2c = 6.10 m
Width of the window type openings 2a = 2m
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 
Figure 3.6.1-1: Shear walls contains openings

Figure 3.6.1-2: Geometry calculated reinforcing walls subjected to horizontal loading Ho

Data:
2 4 2 4
E  10000  MPa E´  20000  MPa 1  2  m I1  4  m 2  1.6  m I2  2  m

3 4 4
S  5.42  m I  39  m i  0.006  m l  2.75  m

 1  1 S
 
 1 2 
c  c  3.049m
2

Ho  l  S
Z  10  l Ho  354  kN a  1  m  135.292kN
I

3  E´  i I c 2 2 1
      0.048m   0.219m

E  I1  I2  S 3
a l

    Z   6.016

Determination the value of 

2 2 2
  6.016 d   Odesolve (  1)
T(  )    T(  )   ( 1   ) T( 0) 0 T'( 1) 0
2
d
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Diagram () vs 

0.6

0.54
0.48
0.42
0.36
( ) 0.3

0.24
0.18
0.12
0.06
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

where the value of the function  can read from the graf, based on the coefficient
for paying the relationship  H

1

 (  )    (  ) d   0 0.01 1


Diagram () vs 

0.4
0.36
0.32
0.28
0.24
 ( ) 0.2
0.16
0.12
0.08
0.04
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1


tonne tonne
v 1  30  v 2  20  e1  0.5  m e2  1  m
l l
Solving the values of K and J

S   I1  I2 1   I1  I2 1  3 1
K   v 2   e2     v 1   e 1    K  1.893  10 m  kg
2 c 2 2 c 1
I
    
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

S   I1  I2 1   I1  I2 1  3 1
J   v 2   e2     v 1   e1    J  1.893  10 m  kg
2 c 2 2 c 1
I
    

Ho  l  S
i  2  12 j  1  11   0     0.1 (  )   (  )
1 i i 1 I

Determination the values of M1 and M2

I1 (1   )2 S 
M 1(  )   Ho  Z   2 c   (  )
I1  I2  2 I 

I2 (1   )2 S 
M 2(  )   Ho  Z   2 c   (  )
I1  I2  2 I 

 j2 
2

 1
j   
 1
j  (1   ) 
j
 1 j 
0 21.828 kN 0 1 0.161
5·10-3 25.068 0.017 0.9 0.185
0.02 32.611 0.038 0.8 0.241
0.045 42.226 0.066 0.7 0.312
0.08 52.451 0.101 0.6 0.388
0.125 62.055 0.143 0.5 0.459
0.18 69.575 0.192 0.4 0.514
0.245 72.767 0.245 0.3 0.538
0.32 67.778 0.297 0.2 0.501
0.405 47.701 0.341 0.1 0.353
0.5 7.526·10-14 0.361 0 0
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 
 j2  2  c  S  
  1   j   j 
S
2 c  1 q 
I j 2 I
0 0 21.828 kN
0.014 -9.383·10-3 25.068
0.032 -0.012 32.611
0.056 -0.011 42.226
0.085 -5.313·10-3 52.451
0.121 3.761·10-3 62.055
0.163 0.017 69.575
0.208 0.037 72.767
0.252 0.068 67.778
0.289 0.116 47.701
0.306 0.194 7.526·10-14

(1  )
2
2 c m Ho  l  S 2 c m
  (  )   (  ) q (  )  ( ( 1   ) ) 
2 I I I

6 5
1.5 10 810
5
110
6 610
5
410
M 1  j  510
5
M 2  j 
5
210
0
0
5
 510  210
5
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
j j

External load w acting on the structure induces in the individual pillars bending moments.


M1 1  
j   
M2 1  
j  
0 kN  m 0 kN  m
-60.893 -30.447
-79.765 -39.883
-69.196 -34.598
-34.479 -17.239
24.407 12.204
112.802 56.401
243.358 121.679
440.758 220.379
750.922 375.461
1.258·103 629.068
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Example 3.6-2: Solution of reinforcing concrete walls with openings subjected to vertical
load
The reinforcing walls, as mentioned in the introduction, other than the horizontal load and the
vertical load are transmitted as well.

This chapter is about solving the stiffening of reinforced walls in terms of a vertical load defined
the basic assumptions that in dealing with all three types of reinforcing walls.

L - floor height
H - total height of the wall
A1A2 - cross-sectional area of each pillar
2c - distance between pillars
2 - width of openings
N - normal force acting in the pillar
shear force applied in the girders
E - modulus of elasticity of the walls
E'- modulus of girders
V1 - vertical loads on pillar 1 at level each floor
v2 - vertical loads on the Pillar 2 at the level of each floor
E1 - eccentricity at which the load acts v1
e2 - eccentricity at which the load applied v2
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Figure: 3.6.2-1
Data:
2 4 2 4
E  10000  MPa E´  20000  MPa 1  2  m I1  4  m 2  1.6  m I2  2  m
3 4 4
S  5.42  m I  39  m i  0.006  m l  2.75  m Z  10  l Ho  354  kN a  1  m

 1  1 S
 
 1 2 
c  c  3.049m v 1  300  kN v 2  200  kN e1  0.5  m e2  1  m
2

Ho  l  S S   I1  I2 1   I1  I2 1 
 135.292kN K   v 2   e2     v 1   e 1   
2 c 2 2 c 1
I I
    

3  E´  i I c 2 2 1
      0.048m K  52.06kN   0.219m

E  I1  I2  S 3
a l

    Z   6.016 i  2  12 j  1  11   0     0.1
1 i i 1

(  )  K   (  )

Diagram () vs 

2 2 2
  6.016 d
T(  )    T(  )   ( 1   ) T( 0) 0 T'( 1) 0
2
d
  Odesolve (  1)
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 
0.6
0.54
0.48
0.42
0.36
( ) 0.3

0.24
0.18
0.12
0.06
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Figure: 3.6.2-2
Diagram () vs 

1

 (  )    (  ) d



  0 0.01 1

0.4
0.36
0.32
0.28
0.24
 ( ) 0.2
0.16
0.12
0.08
0.04
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Figure: 3.6.2-3
I1
M 1(  ) 
I1  I2

Z
l
 
 ( 1   )  v 1  e1  v 2  e2  2  c  K  (  )
 

I2
M 2(  ) 
I1  I2

Z
l
 
 ( 1   )  v 1  e1  v 2  e2  2  c  K  (  )
 
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 
Z
N1 (  )   v  ( 1   )  K  (  )
l  1 

Z
N2 (  )   v  ( 1   )  K  (  )
l  2 

Diagram () vs 
1

(  )    (  ) d


  0 0.01 1

0.9
0.81
0.72
0.63
0.54
 ( ) 0.45
0.36
0.27
0.18
0.09
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Figure: 3.6.2-4

Diagram () vs 

2
d
T(  )
2
d
K  1  T(  ) K T( 0) 0 T'( 1) 0   Odesolve (  1)
2

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1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
 ( )0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Figure: 3.6.2-5

 ( 0.4)  0.91  ( 0.5)  0.95


 1
j   
 1  
j   (1   ) 
j
 1   j
0 39.606 kN 1 -0.995
-0.099 39.57 0.9 -0.994
-0.199 39.447 0.8 -0.991
-0.298 39.194 0.7 -0.985
-0.396 38.714 0.6 -0.973
-0.492 37.829 0.5 -0.95
-0.585 36.21 0.4 -0.91
-0.673 33.251 0.3 -0.835
-0.75 27.85 0.2 -0.7
-0.809 17.992 0.1 -0.452
-0.834 2.654·10-14 0 0

6 5
110 510
5 5
810 410
5 5
610 310
M 1  j  M 2  j 
5 5
410 210
5 5
210 110

0 0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
j j

Figure 3.6.2-6
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

M1 1  
j   
M2 1  
j   
N1 1  
j   
N2 1  
j  
0 kN  m 0 kN  m 0 kN 0 kN
72.384 36.192 260.406 239.594
145.081 72.54 520.889 479.111
218.519 109.259 781.554 718.446
293.404 146.702 1.043·103 957.424
370.982 185.491 1.304·103 1.196·103
453.501 226.75 1.567·103 1.433·103
545.055 272.527 1.832·103 1.668·103
653.105 326.553 2.101·103 1.899·103
791.268 395.634 2.378·103 2.122·103
984.388 492.194 2.668·103 2.332·103

Diagram vs 
Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Figure: 3.6.2-7
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Diagram vs 

Figure: 3.6.2-8

Diagram vs 

Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

Figure: 3.6.2-9

Diagram vs 

Sabah Shawkat   Cabinet of Structural Engineering  2017 
 
 

0,9

0,8

0,7


0,6



0,5 


0,4 


0,3


0,2

0,1

0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 

Figure: 3.6.2-10