Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Transfer Forces

In cases where an element of the

LFRS transfers forces from above
Diaphragm
to a diaphragm below, like the re- force
inforced concrete shear walls sup-
Reinforced concrete shear �all �t�p��
ported by the podium slab in Figure
Collector �t�p��
4.10, collectors are required to transfer
the shear forces from the walls into the 𝑉𝑉�
diaphragm (see Figure 6.10). These transfer Reinforced concrete
�asement �all �t�p��
forces and the in-plane diaphragm forces at
that level are then transferred to the basement
walls in the direction of analysis.

The equivalent beam model may not be the most suit-

able method to use where relatively large transfer forces
must be considered.
Collector Axial Forces
Direction of Load Requirements
Figure 6.10 Collectors for Transferring Shear Forces from Structural Walls
Direction of load analyses must be performed for lateral forc- Above to Basement Walls Below
es where required (see Chapter 5 of this publication). In the
case of wind forces, the four load cases in ASCE/SEI Figure
27.3-8 should be considered when determining the internal
forces in a diaphragm. Generally, applying full wind pressures
independently in each perpendicular direction results in the
𝐹𝐹�  
critical cases. Direction of load requirements for diaphragms
in buildings subjected to seismic forces are given in Sections
5.3 through 5.5.

6.4.3 Corrected Equivalent Beam Model with

Spring Supports 𝐹𝐹�  
𝑥𝑥 
This model is best suited for buildings with rigid diaphragms
and lateral force-resisting systems that have different stiff-
nesses. Effects of torsion are automatically accounted for in
this method. 𝐹𝐹��   𝑖𝑖 
Diaphragm Forces

Just like in the equivalent beam model with rigid supports,

the first step in determining the internal in-plane forces in a
diaphragm based on the corrected equivalent beam model is 𝑉𝑉 
to obtain the diaphragm forces that are transferred to the ver- Figure 6.11 Vertical Seismic Force Distribution in a Multistory Building
tical elements of the LFRS. In multistory buildings, a three- for Use in the Determination of Diaphragm Forces
dimensional model of the building is usually constructed with
the appropriate lateral forces applied at each level over the
height of the building. Horizontal wind forces are applied us-
ing the information in Section 4.2.1 of this publication. Seis-
mic forces are applied over the height in accordance with
𝑉𝑉���
ASCE/SEI Equation (12.8-11) with the exception that at
the diaphragm level under consideration is replaced with the
diaphragm force determined by ASCE/SEI 12.10.1.1 (see
Reference 11). This is illustrated in Figure 6.11 where is
the diaphragm force applied to the structure at level (which
is the diaphragm level under consideration) instead of . 𝑉𝑉� � 𝑉𝑉� � 𝑉𝑉���
𝑉𝑉�
Where rigid diaphragms are assigned at the roof and floor
levels, diaphragm forces are determined by making sec-
tion cuts in the vertical elements of the LFRS immediately Figure 6.12 Force Transferred Between a Diaphragm and a Vertical Ele-
ment of the LFRS

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

above and below the diaphragm. This is illustrated in ④ ⑤

Figure 6.12 for shear wall 1 in Figure 6.7. The shear
forces and in the wall above and below the
diaphragm, respectively, are obtained from the lateral
analysis of the entire building. The force , which ③

𝐿𝐿𝐿
① ②
in this case is equal to , is the diaphragm
force that is transferred to the wall at this location.

Unlike rigid diaphragms, diaphragm forces in semi-

⑥ ⑦
rigid diaphragms can be obtained by making section 𝑏𝑏� 𝑏𝑏�
𝑏𝑏�
cuts through the diaphragm adjacent to the vertical
elements of the LFRS. To obtain more accurate re- 𝑉𝑉
sults, a relatively fine finite element mesh should be 𝑅𝑅� 𝑅𝑅� 𝑅𝑅�
used in the diaphragm at the locations of the vertical
elements. 𝑤𝑤�
𝑤𝑤�
In low-rise buildings with rigid diaphragms, the stiff-
nesses of the elements of the LFRS can be obtained 𝑉𝑉�,���
using approximate analyses; such analyses do not
result in a significant loss of accuracy. For example,
reactions can be calculated by Equations (6.5) and
(6.6) using approximate stiffnesses (such as those Shear
given in Section 6.3.3 of this publication). Otherwise,
stiffnesses can be obtained from a more refined
analysis.

Once the diaphragm forces that are transferred to the

vertical elements of the LFRS have been obtained
using the appropriate method outlined above, the
Moment
second step is to determine an equivalent in-plane
distributed load on the diaphragm that is in equilibri-
um with these forces (reactions). The distributed load
is usually trapezoidal, which accounts for any torsional
moments (see Figure 6.13). The loads and at
each end of the equivalent beam can be obtained by
using the equations for force equilibrium and moment
equilibrium and then solving these two equations for
the two unknowns and . 𝑀𝑀�,���
For the rigid diaphragm in Figure 6.13, the force and
Figure 6.13 Equivalent Distributed Load, Shear Diagram, and Moment
moment equations of equilibrium in the direction of Diagram for a Rigid Diaphragm
analysis are the following where moments are summed
about the left edge of the diaphragm:

(6.8)

(6.9)

The resultant force of the trapezoidal distributed load is equal to the applied lateral force at that level obtained from analysis,
which is reflected in Equation (6.8). Note that the moment caused by the forces in the elements of the LFRS in the direction
perpendicular to the in-plane force is often ignored in overall horizontal force distribution (for example, the moment caused by
the Term 2 forces in walls 3 and 4 in Figure 6.6 are not considered). This moment can be incorporated into the trapezoidal load, if
desired.

Once and have been determined, the final step is to construct shear and moment diagrams for the diaphragm (see
Figure 6.13). The shear diagram is used in (1) checking the design shear strength of the diaphragm, (2) designing the connections

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 Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

of the diaphragm to the vertical elements of the 𝐵𝐵 Chord force ������

LFRS, and (3) determining the axial compression
and tension forces in the collectors, if any. As ③ 𝑻𝑻𝒖𝒖 𝑻𝑻𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖
noted previously, the moment diagram is used in
determining the tension and compression forces ��r�c��ral wall ������
in the chords, the former of which is needed to ���dia�hra�m ������
𝑪𝑪𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖
calculate the required chord reinforcement near 𝑉𝑉� 𝑉𝑉�

𝐿𝐿
the edges of the diaphragm.

ℓ����
① ②
Diaphragms with Openings Uniform shear flow,
Collec�or elemen� ������
𝑻𝑻𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 𝑣𝑣� � 𝑉𝑉�⁄𝐿𝐿
This analysis method can also be used for 𝑪𝑪𝒖𝒖 𝑪𝑪𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖
diaphragms with large openings (Reference 12).
④
Illustrated in Figure 6.14 is a representation of
the force distribution for the diaphragm in Figure 𝑤𝑤�
6.7 with a relatively large opening. For purposes Figure 6.14 Force Distribution in a Diaphragm with a Relatively Large
of analysis, the diaphragm segments (commonly Opening
referred to as subdiaphragms) above and below the
opening can be idealized as beams that are fixed
at each end. It is assumed that the collector element on one
side of the opening collects the uniform diaphragm shear on 𝐴𝐴�

ℓ�
that side and transfers it to the subdiaphragms above and
below the opening in proportion to their relative stiffness or 𝐿

① ② ③

ℓ����
𝐿𝐿
mass. The collector on the other side of the opening then
collects the shear from the subdiaphragms and transfers it 𝐴𝐴�

ℓ�
to the portion of the diaphragm on that side of the opening.
Thus, the loading on a subdiaphragm is based on the total 𝑏𝑏� 𝑏𝑏�
𝑏𝑏�
applied force at that level and the relative stiffness or mass
of the subdiaphragm. Secondary chord forces occur in each
𝑅𝑅� 𝑅𝑅� 𝑅𝑅�
subdiaphragm due to local bending caused by this loading. 𝑏𝑏����

The diaphragm depicted in Figure 6.15 is the same as the 𝑤𝑤� 𝑤𝑤� 𝑤𝑤� 𝑤𝑤�
one in Figure 6.13 but with a relatively large opening in it. The
forces at each edge of the opening are designated and
, which can be obtained from the overall trapezoidal Figure 6.15 Diaphragm in Figure 6.13 with a Relatively Large Opening
force distribution.

In the case of wind forces, the forces on the subdia-

phragms above and below the opening can be approximately determined using the in-plane stiffness ratios of these subdia-
phragms, and , which can be calculated by the following equations where it is assumed that the entire slab is of
uniform thickness and material:

(6.10)

(6.11)

In the case of seismic forces, the forces on the subdiaphragms above and below the opening can be approximately determined
based on mass. Assuming the diaphragm has the same thickness and material properties everywhere, the mass ratios of the
subdiaphragms and can be calculated by the following equations:

(6.12)

(6.13)

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

where and are the areas of the subdiaphragms 𝑅𝑅��� 𝑏𝑏���� 𝑅𝑅���
above and below the opening, respectively (see Figure
6.15):
�
𝑀𝑀����� �
𝑀𝑀�����
(6.14)

𝑤𝑤��� � 𝑓𝑓��� 𝑤𝑤�
𝑤𝑤��� � 𝑓𝑓��� 𝑤𝑤�
(6.15)

�
Free-body diagrams of the top and bottom subdia- 𝑀𝑀���
phragms are given in Figure 6.16; as noted previously,
Moment
the ends of these elements are assumed to be fixed.
The moment diagrams in the figure can be obtained
from statics where the appropriate and deter-
�
𝑀𝑀�����
mined by Equations (6.10) through (6.13) are used to �
𝑀𝑀�����
obtain the forces at each end of the subdiaphragm. The �a� Top segment
secondary tension and compression chord forces are
determined using Equation (6.7) where is the
𝑅𝑅��� 𝑏𝑏���� 𝑅𝑅���
maximum positive moment in each subdiaphragm.

The total tension chord force along the edge of the

diaphragm at the center of the opening is obtained by �
𝑀𝑀����� �
𝑀𝑀�����
adding the primary tension chord force, , to the
secondary tension chord force, (see Figure 6.17). 𝑤𝑤��� � 𝑓𝑓��� 𝑤𝑤�
𝑤𝑤��� � 𝑓𝑓��� 𝑤𝑤�
The primary tension chord force can be calculated by
the following equation: �
𝑀𝑀���

(6.16) Moment

�
𝑀𝑀�����
where is the moment at the center of the opening, �
𝑀𝑀�����
which is not necessarily the maximum diaphragm mo- �b� Bottom segment

ment, (see Figure 6.17). The secondary tension

chord force is equal to the following (see Figure 6.16):
� �
⎧ ℓ� ⎧ ℓ�
⎪ℓ� � ℓ� for wind ⎪ℓ� � ℓ� for wind
𝑓𝑓��� � � � 𝑓𝑓��� � � �
(6.17) ⎨ 𝐴𝐴� ⎨ 𝐴𝐴�
⎪ for seismic ⎪ for seismic
⎩ 𝐴𝐴� � 𝐴𝐴� ⎩ 𝐴𝐴� � 𝐴𝐴�

Tension chord reinforcement, , is determined Figure 6.16 Free-body Diagrams and Moment Diagrams for Subdia-
using the larger of the following tension chord forces: phragms in Figure 6.15
• The primary tension chord force based on the maxi-
mum diaphragm bending moment, :

(6.18)

• T
 he summation of the primary tension chord force at the location of the opening plus the secondary tension chord force at
the opening:

(6.19)

Thus, the required area of chord reinforcement is equal to the following:

(6.20)

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