Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

2. Determine the out-of-plane forces.

The out-of-plane forces on the roof diaphragm are determined in Part 2(a) of Step 2 above.

• S
 tep 4 – Determine the Classification of the Diaphragm, Select the Diaphragm Model, and Determine Diaphragm
Internal Forces
1. Determine the diaphragm classification.
The information in Section 6.1 of this publication is used to determine the classification of this diaphragm. In the north-
south direction, the span-to-depth ratio is equal to . In the east-west direction, the maximum
span-to-depth ratio is equal to . Because the overall span-to-depth ratios of the diaphragm are
less than 2, the reinforced concrete slab can be classified as a rigid diaphragm when subjected to wind forces in both
directions of analysis (ASCE/SEI 26.2).

In the case of seismic forces, the diaphragm can be classified as rigid when the two conditions in ASCE/SEI 12.31.2
are satisfied. The first condition is satisfied because the span-to-depth ratio is less than 3 in both directions. For the
second condition, check if the diaphragm has any of the horizontal irregularities in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1. A reentrant
corner irregularity is defined to exist where both plan projections of the structure beyond a reentrant corner are greater
than 15 percent of the plan dimension of the structure in the given direction. In the north-south direction, the length of
the projection is equal to 24.0 ft which is greater than . In the east-west direction, the length
of the projection is equal to 60.0 ft, which is greater than . Thus, the building has a reentrant
corner irregularity. Therefore, ASCE/SEI 12.3.1.2 cannot be used to classify the diaphragm as rigid.

A three-dimensional model of the building was constructed using Reference 14. In the model, the columns are fixed at
the base (see ASCE/SEI 12.7.1) and the following reduced moments of inertia are used, which account for the effects of
cracked sections (ASCE/SEI 12.7.3):

• Columns that are part of the moment-resisting frames:

• Beams:
• Slabs (out-of-plane):
• Slabs (in-plane):
The columns that are not part of the LFRS are assigned stiffness modifiers equal to 0.001 to ensure that the effects
from the lateral loads are resisted only by the moment-resisting frames. It was found that the in-plane forces based
on rigid diaphragms assigned at each level are essentially identical to those based on semirigid diaphragms, so the
diaphragms can be considered rigid.

2. Select the diaphragm model.

The corrected equivalent beam model with spring supports is selected for this diaphragm. As noted in Section 6.4.3,
this model is best suited for buildings with rigid diaphragms and lateral force-resisting systems with elements that have
different stiffnesses, which is the case for the building in this example.

3. Determine the diaphragm internal forces.

The flowchart in Figure 9.3 is used to determine the internal forces in the diaphragm.

It is evident from the information Tables 10.6 and 10.8 that the seismic forces are greater than the wind forces at all
levels of the building. Thus, internal forces in the roof diaphragm are determined using the design seismic forces in
Table 10.8. Also, because the building is assigned to SDC B, the design seismic forces in the north-south and east-west
directions are permitted to be applied independently in each of the two orthogonal directions and orthogonal interaction
effects are permitted to be neglected (ASCE/SEI 12.5.2).

(a) Determine the location of the CM.

The location of the CM is determined based on the weight of the slab only (in typical cases, the weights of verti-
cal elements and beams have a nominal effect on the location of the CM). The same slab thickness and concrete
mix are used throughout the entire roof level, so the location of the CM is determined using the plan areas of
the slab segments with the origin taken at the intersection of column lines 1 and A. In the north-south direction,
due to symmetry. In the east-west direction, is determined as follows:

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

From Reference 14, and ; these values are determined in the program based on the
weights of the slab, columns, and beams.

(b) Determine the location of the CR.

In the north-south direction, the CR is located 72.0 ft from column line A due to the symmetric distribution of the
SFRS in the east-west direction. In the east-west direction, the CR is calculated using the approximate story stiff-
ness for the frames on column lines 1 and 7, which are determined by Equation (6.3) of this publication:

For the frame along column line 1:

For the frame along column line 7:

Therefore, using Equation (6.1):

From Reference 14, .

(c) Determine the seismic forces in each of the frames.

Seismic forces are applied at the CM in both directions. According to ASCE/SEI 12.8.4.2, an accidental torsional
moment must be included when evaluating whether a horizontal structural irregularity in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1 ex-
ists in a structure. It was determined in Part 1 of this step that a Type 2 reentrant corner irregularity is present.

Check if a Type 1a torsional irregularity or a Type 1b extreme torsional irregularity exist by determining the lateral
displacements and story drifts due to the seismic forces applied on the SFRS at the CM over the height of the
building where the CM is displaced each way from its actual location a distance equal to 5 percent of the dimen-
sion of the structure perpendicular to the direction of analysis (see ASCE/SEI 12.8.4.2). The elastic displacements,
, at each end of the building in both directions from the analysis are given in Table 10.9 assuming the effects of
the seismic forces are resisted only by the moment frames along column lines A, B, F, G, 1, and 7. Also given in the
table are and , which are the story drifts and the average of the story drifts at each end of the building,
respectively. The term is the maximum of the story drifts at each end of the building.

No torsional irregularities exist in either direction because the ratio at all levels of the building
(see ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1).

Based on the descriptions in ASCE/SEI Table 12.3-1, it is evident that horizontal structural irregularity Types 3
through 5 do not exist for this structure.

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 Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

Table 10.9 Lateral Displacements and Story Drifts Due to Seismic Forces

North-South Direction East-West Direction

Story
(in.) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in.) (in.)
7 2.51 0.16 3.04 0.20 0.18 1.11 2.67 0.18 3.00 0.20 0.19 1.05
6 2.35 0.25 2.84 0.31 0.28 1.11 2.49 0.27 2.80 0.32 0.30 1.07
5 2.10 0.36 2.53 0.43 0.40 1.08 2.22 0.39 2.48 0.42 0.41 1.02
4 1.74 0.43 2.10 0.51 0.47 1.09 1.83 0.45 2.06 0.50 0.48 1.04
3 1.31 0.47 1.59 0.58 0.53 1.09 1.38 0.51 1.56 0.57 0.54 1.06
2 0.84 0.48 1.10 0.58 0.53 1.09 0.87 0.50 0.99 0.56 0.53 1.06
1 0.36 0.36 0.43 0.43 0.40 1.08 0.37 0.37 0.43 0.43 0.40 1.08

Accidental torsion in accordance with ASCE/SEI 12.8.4.2 need not be applied in the analysis for strength design or
when checking the story drift limits prescribed in ASCE/SEI 12.12 because the structure, which is assigned to SDC
B, does not have a Type 1b horizontal structural irregularity. Thus, in the east-west direction where there is no ec-
centricity between the CM and the CR , no torsional moment is generated. In the north-south direction,
, which means a torsional moment is generated.

The forces in each of the frames due to the 127.5-kip seismic diaphragm force at the roof level are determined
using Equations (6.5) and (6.6) of this publication. The approximate stiffness of each of the frames along column
lines A, B, F, and G is equal to , which is determined by Equation (6.3). Therefore, each of the frames resists
because of the symmetrical distribution of the elements of the SFRS in the east-west direc-
tion and because there is no torsional moment.

Forces in the frames for the 127.5-kip seismic force applied at the CM in the south direction are given in Table 10.10
where it is assumed that positive forces act in the north and east directions. The forces act in the directions that
resist the applied in-plane force and torsional moment.

Table 10.10 Forces in the Frames for the Seismic Force in the South Direction
Term 1 Term 2

Frame
(ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (kips)
(kips) (kips)
1 0.0 — 1.23 — 49.4 — 3,002 — 75.0 -2.0 73.0
7 120.0 — 0.86 — 70.6 — 4,287 — 52.5 2.0 54.5
A — 0.0 — 0.72 — 72.0 — 3,733 — 1.7 1.7
B — 24.0 — 0.72 — 48.0 — 1,659 — 1.1 1.1
F — 120.0 — 0.72 — 48.0 — 1,659 — -1.1 -1.1
G — 144.0 — 0.72 — 72.0 — 3,733 — -1.7 -1.7
Σ 2.09 2.88 7,289** 10,784** 127.5 0.0 127.5
* For frames along column lines A, B, F, and G, replace with in this equation.
**

Depicted in Figure 10.9 are the Term 1 and Term 2 forces in each of the frames for the seismic force in the south
direction.

The largest difference between the forces in the moment frames obtained from the approximate method above
and the forces from the three-dimensional analysis is about 5 percent.

(d) D
 etermine the equivalent in-plane distributed loads on the diaphragm and construct the corresponding shear and
moment diagrams.

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A

� � � � � �
20 -0″ 20 -0″ 20 -0″ 20 -0″ 20 -0″ 20 -0″

1.7 kips
24� -0″

1.1 kips
24� -0″

E
75.0 kips

127.5 kips

52.5 kips
2.0 kips

2.0 kips
24� -0″

N
CR CM
D

𝑥𝑥�� � 4�.4�
𝑒𝑒� � 4.6�
24� -0″

𝑥𝑥�� � 54.0�

C
𝑦𝑦�� � 𝑦𝑦�� � 72.0�
24� -0″

1.1 kips

B
24� -0″

Term 1 force

1.7 kips
Term 2 force
A

Figure 10.9 Force allocation to the frames for the seismic force in the south direction.

The equivalent in-plane distributed loads for seismic forces in the south and west directions are determined using
the information in Section 6.4.3 of this publication.

• Seismic force in the south direction

The equivalent in-plane load for the seismic force in the south direction is trapezoidal, which accounts for the
eccentricity between the CM and the CR (see Figure 10.9). The equations for force and moment equilibrium are
solved simultaneously for the two unknowns and where moments are summed about column line 1
(see Figure 10.10):

Therefore, and

• Seismic force in the west direction

In the west direction, the equivalent distributed load is uniformly distributed over the length of the diaphragm
and is equal to (see Figure 10.11). The main reason for including the
relatively large number of significant figures for the uniform load and the frame reactions in Figure 10.11 is to
demonstrate that the relatively small net shear force over the length of the collector between column lines 1

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