Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Vertical seismic load effect, . Vertical seismic load effects, , determined by Equation (5.4) must be included in ASCE/SEI
Equations (12.4-1) and (12.4-2) for structures assigned to SDC D, E, or F.

Seismic load combinations. Seismic load combinations with seismic load effect, , in ACI Equations (5.3.1e) and (5.3.1g) or
ASCE/SEI load combinations 6 and 7 are the following for structures assigned to SDC D, E, or F:

• ACI Equation (5.3.1e) or ASCE/SEI load combination 6:

(5.16)

• ACI Equation (5.3.1g) or ASCE/SEI load combination 7:

(5.17)

As in the case for SDC C, the following equations are applicable for structures assigned to SDC D, E, or F where seismic load
effects including overstrength are required, which includes collectors and their connections (ASCE/SEI 12.10.2.1):
• ACI Equation (5.3.1e) or ASCE/SEI load combination 6:
(5.18)

• ACI Equation (5.3.1g) or ASCE/SEI load combination 7:

(5.19)

Inertia forces determined in accordance with ASCE/SEI 12.10.1.1 must be increased by 25 percent when designing (1)
connections of diaphragms to vertical elements of the SFRS and to collectors and (2) collectors and their connections, including
connections to the vertical elements of the SFRS in structures with the following irregularities (ASCE/SEI 12.3.3.4):

• Horizontal structural irregularity Type 1a, 1b, 2, 3, or 4 in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1

• Vertical structural irregularity Type 4 in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-2
The 25 percent increase need not be applied in cases where seismic load effects including overstrength (ASCE/SEI 12.4.3) have
been used in the design.

In-plane inertial and transfer forces. In buildings that have a Type 4 horizontal structural irregularity, the in-plane seismic effect,
, that is to be used in Equations (5.16) and (5.17) must include seismic effects from in-plane forces and . Similarly,
in buildings that do not have a Type 4 horizontal structural irregularity, that is to be used in Equations (5.16) and (5.17) must
include seismic effects from in-plane forces and where is the redundancy factor determined by ASCE/SEI 12.3.4.2
for the structure.

Direction of loading. The direction of load requirements for diaphragms in buildings assigned to SDC D, E, or F are the same as
those for SDC C (ASCE/SEI 12.5.4; see Section 5.4).

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

5-6
 Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Chapter 6
Diaphragm Modeling and Analysis
6.1 Overview
General modeling and analysis requirements for diaphragms are given in ACI 12.4.2. The provisions in ACI 12.4.2.2 through
12.4.2.4 are to be used where the requirements of the general building code, such as the IBC or ASCE/SEI 7, are not applicable.

Some of the general analysis requirements in ACI Chapter 6 are applicable to diaphragms. The provisions for elastic analysis in
ACI 6.6.1 through 6.6.3 can be applied because diaphragms are designed to remain essentially elastic when subjected to in-
plane wind and seismic forces.

In-plane stiffness modeling for diaphragms is covered in Sections 6.2. Analysis methods are given in Section 6.3 and various
diaphragm models are included in Sections 6.4 through 6.7.

6.2 In-plane Stiffness Modeling

ACI 12.4.2.3 permits the use of any set of reasonable and consistent assumptions for in-plane stiffness (or, rigidity) of dia-
phragms. Distribution of forces in the diaphragm and displacements and forces in the vertical elements of the lateral force-
resisting system (LFRS) are contingent on the in-plane stiffness of a diaphragm.

In general, a diaphragm is considered to be rigid where the in-plane deflection due to lateral forces is relatively small compared
to that of the vertical elements of the LFRS. For purposes of analysis, a rigid diaphragm is assumed to have an infinite in-plane
stiffness, which means in-plane deflections are equal to zero; as such, rigid diaphragms displace and rotate as a rigid body when
subjected to lateral forces, and the vertical elements of the LFRS move together accordingly (displacement compatibility). Also,
lateral forces are distributed to the vertical elements of the LFRS in proportion to their relative rigidities (stiffnesses) and their
location with respect to the center of rigidity (CR), which is the stiffness centroid within a diaphragm (see Section 6.3.3 below).
Illustrated in Figure 6.1 is the deflected shape of a rigid diaphragm supported by three shear walls that all have the same rigidity.
In this case, the resultant of the lateral forces acts through the CR at that level and the diaphragm undergoes only a rigid body
displacement. If the resultant of the lateral forces did not act through the CR, the diaphragm would also rotate (see Section
6.3.3).

In contrast, the in-plane deflection of a flexible diaphragm

is relatively large compared to that of the vertical elements
of the LFRS (see Figure 6.1), and the distribution of lateral
forces to the vertical elements of the LFRS is independent
of their relative rigidities. In such cases, lateral forces are
distributed based on the tributary mass of the diaphragm to
the vertical elements of the LFRS. For diaphragms of uniform
material and weight, lateral forces can be distributed by tribu-
tary areas. Flexible diaphragms do not undergo rigid body
rotation like rigid diaphragms.

A diaphragm is classified as semirigid where the in-plane

deflection of the diaphragm and the deflection of the vertical
Rigid Diaphragm
elements of the LFRS are of the same order of magnitude.

According to ASCE/SEI 26.2, a concrete diaphragm with a

span-to-depth ratio of 2 or less is permitted to be idealized
as rigid when subjected to lateral wind forces. In the case of
lateral seismic forces, it is permitted to assume that a con-
crete diaphragm is rigid when the following two conditions
are satisfied (ASCE/SEI 12.3.1.2): (1) span-to-depth ratio is 3
or less and (2) structure has none of the horizontal irregulari-
ties in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1. When determining the span-
to-depth ratio, the span is equal to the distance between
lines of lateral resistance (such as walls and frames) in the
direction of analysis. The depth is equal to the overall depth
of the diaphragm in the direction of analysis. The reinforced Flexible Diaphragm
concrete diaphragm illustrated in ACI Figure R12.4.2.3a may
Figure 6.1 Rigid and Flexible Diaphragms

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

not be considered rigid because of its relatively large span-to-depth ratio, , where is the distance between the walls at
each end, which have been designated to be part of the LFRS, and is the depth of the diaphragm in the direction of analysis.
Similarly, ramps in parking structures may not be classified as rigid because of relatively long span-to-depth ratios that are com-
mon in such structures.

A more precise method of determining diaphragm flexibility is given in ASCE/SEI 12.3.1.3, which is based on the maximum
in-plane deflection of the diaphragm, , and the average story drift, ΔADVE (see ASCE/SEI Figure 12.3-1): A diaphragm is
permitted to be idealized as flexible where δMDD / ΔADVE > 2 [ASCE/SEI Equation (12.3-1)]. Note that a rigid diaphragm is defined
in IBC 1604.4 based on deflections and drifts as well: A diaphragm is rigid for the purpose of distribution of story shear and tor-
sional moment when the lateral deformation of the diaphragm, , is less than or equal to two times the average story drift,
ΔADVE.

For diaphragms that cannot be idealized as either rigid or flexible, the in-plane stiffness of the diaphragm must be explicitly ac-
counted for in the analysis (ASCE/SEI 12.3.1). A three-dimensional analysis that considers the stiffnesses of the diaphragms and
the elements of the LFRS usually provides the most accurate distribution of forces in such cases.

As discussed in Section 4.3 of this publication, vertical elements of the LFRS may be subjected to relatively large transfer
forces in buildings with offsets or other types of discontinuities, such as the one illustrated in Figure 4.11. In buildings where the
diaphragms are assumed to be rigid, the transfer forces that are obtained from analysis of the structure may be unnecessarily
larger than they need to be at the levels of the discontinuities. It is recommended in such cases to model the diaphragm stiff-
ness to obtain more realistic estimates of the forces in the diaphragms and the vertical elements of the LFRS. Other examples
of Type 4 vertical irregularities where this type of analysis would be appropriate are illustrated in ASCE/SEI Figure C12.3-3.

To account for cracking in reinforced concrete diaphragms, a stiffness modifier should be applied to the gross in-plane stiffness
of the diaphragm. In the case of wind forces, the structure is typically assumed to respond in the elastic range, so using 50
percent of the gross in-plane moment of inertia of the diaphragm would be appropriate (see ACI 6.6.3.1.2). For seismic forces, it
has been shown that stiffness modifiers typically fall in the range of 0.15 to 0.50 (see Reference 8).

6.3 Analysis Methods

6.3.1 Overview Leeward
wall Diaphragm
Once the diaphragm and collector forces have been
determined (see Chapter 4 of this publication) and Frame
Shear wall
the type of diaphragm has been established based on
in-plane stiffness using the information in Section 6.2
(rigid, semirigid, or flexible), the diaphragm and any
Windward
ℎ

collectors must be analyzed for the effects due to in- wall

plane forces in combination with out-of-plane forces
(see Chapter 5). 𝑏𝑏 𝑏

A general discussion on the load path of lateral forces

in a reinforced concrete building is given in Section Direction of wind
6.3.2. Section 6.3.3 contains a procedure on how
to distribute lateral forces to the members of the
LFRS in a building with rigid diaphragms. ACI 318
analysis methods to determine internal forces in rigid
diaphragms and collectors due to lateral forces are 𝐹𝐹�����
covered in Section 6.3.4. Information on beam, strut- Force to frame,
𝐹𝐹����� Force to wall, Spread
and-tie, finite element, and alternative models for 𝐹𝐹���� 𝐹𝐹���� footing
diaphragms is given in Sections 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, and 6.7,
respectively.
Forces due to wind 𝐹𝐹����
transferred to Total wind force, 𝐹𝐹� � 𝑝𝑝� ℎ𝑏𝑏⁄𝑏
6.3.2 Load Paths for Lateral Forces foundations
𝑝𝑝� ℎ⁄2 𝑀𝑀����

It is important to have a clear understanding of the Soil pressure

�includes gra�it�
complete gravity and lateral load paths in any build-
ℎ ⁄2

forces on wall�
ing, from the application points on the structure to Total wind pressure,
𝑝𝑝�
the termination points in the ground and every point
in between. Illustrated in Figure 6.2 is the load path
Figure 6.2 Path of Wind Forces in a Reinforced Concrete Building

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