Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

The total area of longitudinal tension reinforcement, Seismic hook:

, that is required to resist can be determined 6𝑑𝑑� � 3"
Detail 𝐵𝐵
by Equation (8.27). The axial force and the corresponding extension 6𝑑𝑑� extension
required area of tension reinforcement, , in the width
of the vertical elements of the LFRS is selected considering ��osstie ���� ��3�
design and construction limitations. Once the size and
number of reinforcing bars are chosen based on , the
area of reinforcement, , that is required in the effective
slab width outside the width of the vertical elements is equal
to minus the area of longitudinal reinforcement
that is provided in the width of the vertical elements of the Detail 𝐴𝐴 Detail 𝐶𝐶
LFRS. The reinforcing bars corresponding to are usually
uniformly distributed over the effective width of the collector
(see Figure 8.14).

The design axial compressive strength defined in Equation

(8.27) must be checked for and using the appropriate
and for each segment.

As noted above, the transverse reinforcement requirements

of ACI 18.12.7.5 must be satisfied where the compressive Figure 8.15 Examples of Hoops
stress in a collector exceeds (in cases where the
design forces have been amplified by the overstrength factor,
, the limit of is increased to ) for buildings 𝐴𝐴����
assigned to SDC D, E, or F. Also, the detailing requirements
of either ACI 18.12.7.6(a) or 18.12.7.6(b) need to be satisfied
at splices and anchorage zones. Providing transverse rein-
forcement is usually not practical or feasible in slabs, so the
requirements of ACI 18.12.7.6(a) need to be implemented.
𝑏𝑏���

8.9.3 Beams
𝐴𝐴����
Beams that are designated as collector elements must be
designed for the combined effects from flexure, shear, tor-
sion, axial compression forces, and axial tension forces due
to gravity and lateral loads. Applicable design and detailing
𝑏𝑏���
provisions in ACI Chapter 9 must be satisfied along with the
detailing requirements in Table 8.1 of this publication. Longi-
tudinal reinforcement must be determined for the combined
𝐴𝐴�� � 𝑏𝑏��� � 𝑏𝑏���
effects due to flexure, torsion, and axial compression and Figure 8.16 Confined Core Dimensions for Beams Where the Require-
tension forces, and transverse reinforcement must be deter- ments of ACI 18.12.7.5 Govern
mined for combined effects due to shear and torsion, where
applicable. Generally, a design strength interaction diagram
is constructed, which includes both the axial compression and tension portions, to determine whether the collector is adequate
for all the combined factored flexure and axial load effects. The information provided previously for slabs that are wider than the
vertical elements of the LFRS is also applicable to beams.

As noted in Section 8.9.2, the requirements of ACI 18.12.7.5 must be satisfied for collectors in buildings assigned to SDC D, E,
or F where the compressive stress in the collector exceeds (in cases where the design forces have been amplified by the
overstrength factor, , the limit of is increased to ). The combined compressive stress on a collector is calculated
using the factored combined compression forces and a linearly elastic model based on gross section properties of the collector.

The transverse reinforcement required by ACI 18.12.7.5 must be hoops where the compressive stress is larger than the appli-
cable limiting value given above. Hoops are closed ties or continuously wound ties that are made up of one or several reinforce-
ment elements having seismic hooks at both ends. It is permitted for hoops to be made up of two pieces of reinforcement:
(1) a stirrup having seismic hooks at both ends and (2) a crosstie as defined in ACI 2.3. Illustrated in Figure 8.15 are examples
of hoops that satisfy these requirements. The hoops formed by Details B and C are preferred over those formed by Detail A
because they allow the longitudinal bars in the beam to be placed more easily and efficiently.

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Class B lap splice

per ACI 25.5.2 Minimum reinforcement
�typ. � per ACI 24.4

Collector element �typ.� 𝑠𝑠 � 1�″

A A

𝑠𝑠 � 1�″

3𝑑𝑑�
Spacing � �
1.5″

2.5𝑑𝑑�
Clear cover � �
2″
� 2″

𝑥𝑥�

3𝑑𝑑�
Spacing � �
ℎ

1.5″
𝑥𝑥�

Transverse reinforcement, 𝐴𝐴��

Other reinforcement not

𝑥𝑥�
shown for clarity
𝑏𝑏�

Section A-A

Compressive stress* Transverse reinforcement, 𝑨𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒔𝒔 Spacing, 𝒔𝒔

�smaller of ℎ and 𝑏𝑏� �⁄3
𝑠𝑠 � �6𝑑𝑑�
𝑠𝑠�
� 0.2𝑓𝑓�� 𝐴𝐴�� � 0.09𝑠𝑠𝑏𝑏� 𝑓𝑓�� ⁄𝑓𝑓��
4″ � 𝑠𝑠� � 4 � ��14 � ℎ� �⁄3� � 6″
ℎ� � maximum of 𝑥𝑥� � 14″

0.75�𝑓𝑓�� �𝑏𝑏� 𝑠𝑠⁄𝑠𝑠

�� � 𝑠𝑠 determined in accordance with ACI 22.5 �
� 0.15𝑓𝑓�� 𝐴𝐴�� � �
50 𝑏𝑏� 𝑠𝑠⁄𝑠𝑠
��
Maximum spacing in ACI Table 9.7.6.2.2
* Where design forces have been amplified by Ω� , limits of 0.2𝑓𝑓�� and 0.15𝑓𝑓�� are increased to 0.5𝑓𝑓�� and 0.4𝑓𝑓�� ,
respectively.

Figure 8.17 Requirements for Diaphragms and Collectors in Buildings Assigned to SDC D, E, or F

In the case of rectilinear hoops, the required area of transverse reinforcement, , is determined by the following equation in
ACI Table 18.12.7.5:

(8.29)

In this equation, is the spacing of the transverse reinforcement and is the cross-sectional dimension of the collector core
measured to the outside edges of the transverse reinforcement. The appropriate must be used when calculating ; these
are identified by the same numbered subscripts in Figure 8.16.

Transverse reinforcement in accordance with ACI 18.12.7.5 need not be provided at sections where the combined factored axial
compressive stress is less than (or where the design forces have been amplified by ).

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 Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

To avoid triggering the transverse reinforcement requirements outlined above, the collector can be sized, if possible, so that the
factored compressive stress is less than :

(8.30)

Where the design forces have been amplified by , is to be used in the denominator of Equation (8.30) instead of
.

The spacing and cover requirements in ACI 18.12.7.6(a) or the transverse reinforcement requirements in ACI 18.12.7.6(b) must be
satisfied at splices and anchorage zones for collectors in buildings assigned to SDC D, E, or F. The minimum area of transverse
reinforcement in ACI 18.12.7.6(b) corresponds to that in ACI 9.6.3.3 at sections in beams where the provisions of ACI 18.12.7.5
do not govern.

Requirements for collectors and diaphragms in buildings assigned to SDC D, E, or F are given in Figure 8.17.

8.9.4 Subdiaphragms
As discussed in Section 6.4.3 of this publication, collector elements are provided on each side of an opening in the direction of
analysis to collect and transfer the uniform shear from the diaphragm on one side of the opening to the diaphragm on the other
side via the subdiaphragms above and below the opening.

The required area of collector reinforcement parallel to the direction of analysis is determined using Equation (8.27) where is
equal to the shear force in the diaphragm at this location. This reinforcement typically extends the full depth of the diaphragm in
the direction of analysis.

The required chord reinforcement for the subdiaphragms due to lateral forces in one direction (see Section 8.4.1) act as the
collector reinforcement along the edges of the opening for lateral forces in the perpendicular direction. The reinforcement along
the edges of the opening must be designed and detailed for the critical effects due to lateral forces applied in each direction
separately or in both orthogonal directions concurrently (see Chapter 5 of this publication for more information on when orthogo-
nal load effects must be considered).

8.10 Summary of Design and Detailing Requirements

A summary of the design and detailing requirements for diaphragms that utilize slabs as collectors where the width of the
collector is equal to the width of the vertical elements of the LFRS is given in Figure 8.18 for the case where bottom flexural
reinforcement in a two-way slab system is used as shear transfer reinforcement. The types of reinforcement are identified for
Methods A and B along with the corresponding equations numbers from this chapter. Figure 8.19 provides similar information
for diaphragms that utilize slabs as collectors that are wider than the width of the vertical elements of the LFRS.

Design and detailing requirements for diaphragms that utilize beams as collectors are like those in Figures 8.18 and 8.19 for
slabs. Unless beams are much wider than the vertical elements of the LFRS that they frame into, the in-plane moment due to
the eccentricity of collector forces is usually relatively small; thus, the required tension reinforcement determined by Equation
(8.22) is comparatively small, and separate reinforcement (identified by mark number 6 in Figure 8.18) is typically not required.
As noted above, the design and detailing requirements in Figure 8.17 must be satisfied for collectors in buildings assigned to
SDC D, E, or F.

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

② ①

Slab reinforcement
④

⑤ Reinforcement

Equation No.
Mark
Type
Method Method
A B
1 Chord 8.4
2 Shear 8.6
③ Face of
a 8.12 8.18
Shear transfer wall
A A between Bottom
3 diaphragm and b 8.14 ─
surface
vertical elements
of LFRS Top
c 8.16 ─
surface
Shear transfer between
4 8.19
diaphragm and collectors
5 Collector 8.27

Direction of analysis

3c ⑤ ⑤
Slab reinforcement �typ.� Slab reinforcement �typ.�

3a 3a

3b

Dowel bar

Method A Method B

Section A-A

Figure 8.18 Design and Detailing Requirements – Slabs That Have the Same Width as the Vertical Elements of the LFRS

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