Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

9.12 Step 11 – Determine the Collector Reinforcement

Section 8.9 contains information on how to calculate the required area of reinforcement in slabs and beams that are designated
as collector elements. Methods are given for collector elements that have the same width as and that are wider than the vertical
elements of the LFRS that they frame into.

The flowchart in Figure 9.10 can be used to determine the area of collector reinforcement.

Flowcharts

Given: 𝑓𝑓𝑐𝑐′ , 𝑓𝑓𝑦𝑦 , ℓ, and ℓ𝑛𝑛

No Is the floor/roof system a one-way slab? Yes

Determine minimum ℎ for two-way Determine minimum ℎ using Table 3.1

slabs using Table 3.2, Table 3.3, and Figure 3.1
�ℎ � ℎ1 �
�ℎ � ℎ1 �

Determine minimum ℎ based on one-way

and two-way out-of-plane shear
requirements in Section 3.4
�ℎ � ℎ2 �

Determine minimum ℎ based on

fire-resistance requirements
�ℎ � ℎ3 �

No Is the building assigned to SDC A, B, or C? Yes

Minimum required ℎ � ma��ℎ1 , ℎ2 , ℎ3 , 2��∗ Minimum required ℎ � ma��ℎ1 , ℎ2 , ℎ3 �∗

*Minimum slab thickness based on the in-plane shear

requirements in Section 3.3 must also be checked

Figure 9.1 Procedure to Determine Minimum Required Diaphragm Thickness

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Determine wind pressures at floor/roof levels

using procedures in ASCE/SEI Chapter 27 or 28
[Section 4.2.1] and apply the total wind resultant
force at the centroid of the windward face [Fig. 4.2]

No Is the building assigned to SDC A? Yes

Determine seismic forces 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 over the height

of the building using the ELF Procedure Determine general structural integrity lateral
in ASCE/SEI 12.� �Sect. 4.2.3��1� forces at each level �Sect. 4.2.2��2�

Determine diaphragm seismic forces 𝐹𝐹𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝

at the roof/floor levels using ASCE/SEI 12.10
�E�. �4.16��

Seismic force is the larger of 𝐹𝐹𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 and 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥

applied at the CM at each level�3�

Determine static and dynamic soil lateral forces,

where applicable �Sect. 4.2.4�

Determine flood and/or tsunami forces,

where applicable �Sect. 4.2.5�

�1� The other analytical procedures in ASCE/SEI Table 12.6-1 may be used to determine seismic
design forces.
�2� General structural integrity forces are applicable to buildings assigned to any SDC but generally do

not govern for buildings assigned to SDC B through F.

�3� Seismic forces determined by ASCE/SEI 12.10.1.1 must be increased by 1.25 for the design of

connections of diaphragms to vertical elements of the LFRS and to collectors in buildings assigned
to SDC D through F for structures that have any of the irregularities in ASCE/SEI 12.3.3.4. Forces
calculated using the seismic load effects including overstrength of ASCE/SEI 12.4.3 need not be
increased by 1.25.

Figure 9.2 Procedure to Determine Required Forces on a Diaphragm

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 Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Determine wind transfer forces,

where applicable �Sect. 4.3�

Does the structure have horizontal irregularity

No Yes
Type 4 in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1?

Determine seismic transfer forces ρF , Determine seismic transfer forces Ω𝑜𝑜 𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹
where applicable �Sect. 4.3� where applicable �Sect. 4.3�

Determine wind and seismic anchorage and

connection forces, where applicable �Sect. 4.4�

Determine column bracing forces,

where applicable �Sect. 4.5�

Determine out-of-plane forces

�Sect. 4.��

Determine collector wind forces, and for

buildings assigned to SDC C through F,
determine collector seismic forces in accordance
with ASCE/SEI 12.10.2.1 �Sect. 4.���4�

�4� Seismic
forces determined by ASCE/SEI 12.10.1.1 must be increased by 1.25 for
the design of collectors and their connections, including connections to vertical
elements of the LFRS, in buildings assigned to SDC D through F for structures that
have any of the irregularities in ASCE/SEI 12.3.3.4. Forces calculated using the
seismic load effects including overstrength of ASCE/SEI 12.4.3 need not be
increased by 1.25.

Figure 9.2 (Continued) Procedure to Determine Required Forces on a Diaphragm

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Determine the reactions in the elements of the

LFRS in the direction of analysis using computer
software, or where applicable, an approximate
method of horizontal force distribution like the
one in Sect. 6.3.3 for all applicable in-plane forces
on the diaphragm

Determine the equivalent in-plane distributed

load on the diaphragm based on the reactions in
the elements of the LFRS �Sect. 6.4.3�

Construct in-plane shear and moment diagrams

using the reactions and equivalent distributed
load on the diaphragm

Does the diaphragm have one or more

No Yes
relatively large openings?

Determine the maximum tension and

Determine the maximum tension and
compression chord forces using the procedure in
compression chord forces from �q. �6.��
Sect. 6.4.3

Determine the collector forces based on the width of the

collector with respect to the width of the vertical element of
the LFRS that it frames into using the information in Sect. 6.4.3

Figure 9.3 Procedure to Determine In-plane Reactions in a Rigid Diaphragm

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