Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

1A 7

𝑤𝑤�,� � 1.53 -kip⁄�t

𝑤𝑤�,� � 0.�0 -kip⁄�t

N

120� -0″

𝑅𝑅� � 73.0 -kip 𝑅𝑅� � 54.5 -kip

73.0

Shear �-kips

54.5

1,923

Moment �� -kips
ft

55.7�

Figure 10.10 Equivalent distributed load, shear diagram, and moment diagram for the seismic force in the south direction.

and 4 is equal to the net shear force over the length of the diaphragm adjacent to the moment frame between
column lines 4 and 7 (see Figure 10.12). Using a smaller number of significant figures results in net shear forces
that appear to be not equal; this difference is due to roundoff only.

(e) Determine the chord forces.

• Seismic force in the south direction
The maximum moment is equal to 1,923 ft-kips and occurs at approximately 55.7 ft from column line 1 (see
Figure 10.10). Therefore, using Equation (6.7), the maximum chord forces are equal to the following:

At 60.0 ft from column line 1 where the diaphragm depth is 96.0 ft in the direction of analysis, the moment is
equal to 1,913 ft-kips and the chord forces are equal to the following:

• Seismic force in the west direction

The maximum moment is equal to 1,530 ft-kips, which is located 72.0 ft from column line A (see Figure 10.11).
Therefore, using Equation (6.7), the maximum chord forces are equal to the following:

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

GA AA
𝑤𝑤� � 0.885 -kip⁄�t

24� -0″ 96� -0″ 24� -0″

𝑅𝑅� � 31.875 -kip 𝑅𝑅� � 31.875 -kip 𝑅𝑅� � 31.875 -kip 𝑅𝑅� � 31.875 -kip

42.510

31.875

10.635
Shear �-kips

1,530

510

Moment �� -kips
ft

Figure 10.11 Equivalent distributed load, shear diagram, and moment diagram for the seismic force in the west direction.

At 24.0 ft from column line A, the maximum chord forces are equal to the following:

(f) Determine the unit shear forces, net shear forces, and collector forces.
• Seismic force in the south direction
The maximum unit shear force in the diaphragm occurs along column line 7:

Collectors are not required in this direction of analysis because the moment frames extend the full depth of the
diaphragm.

• Seismic force in the west direction

The maximum unit shear force in the diaphragm occurs along column lines A and G:

Collector elements are required along column lines B and F. The unit shear forces, net shear forces, and collector
forces along column line F is given in Figure 10.12 assuming the collector is the portion of the slab in line with
the frame along column lines F and that the width of the collector is equal to the width of the beam in the mo-
ment frame (the forces are the same for the collector along column line B).

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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″

24� -0″
10.635
� 0.177 kips⁄ft 31.875
60
� 0.531 kips⁄ft
60

42.510
� 0.354 kips⁄ft
120

0.531 kips⁄ft

𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔𝐔
A

0.177 kips⁄ft
28� � 20� beam �t�p.�
0.354 kips⁄ft

0.177 kips⁄ft

𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍

0.177 kips⁄ft

𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂𝐂

10.6 kips

Figure 10.12 Unit shear forces, net shear forces, and collector forces in the diaphragm along column line F.

• Step 5 – Determine Combined Load Effects

Combined load effects are determined for this building that is assigned to SDC B using the applicable strength design load
combinations in ACI 5.3 (see Table 5.1 of this publication and Figure 9.4).

The governing combined out-of-plane load effects are determined in Part 2(a) of Step 2 above. The maximum factored uni-
form load on the roof slab due to dead and rain loads is equal to 177.8 psf (see Table 10.4).

As noted previously, the governing in-plane load effects are due to design seismic forces. Thus, ACI Equation (5.3.1e) must
be used, which reduces to the following in this example:

The effect of horizontal and vertical earthquake-induced forces, , is determined by ASCE/SEI 12.4.2 (see Equations (5.1),
(5.3), and (5.4) of this publication):

For buildings assigned to SDC B, the redundancy factor, , is permitted to be taken as 1.0 (ASCE/SEI 12.3.4.1). Also, ac-
cording to the second exception in ASCE/SEI 12.4.2.2, the vertical seismic load effect, , is permitted to be
taken as zero for buildings assigned to SDC B. Thus, in this example, where the effects of the horizontal seismic
forces, , have been determined in Step 4 above.

• Step 6 – Determine the Chord Reinforcement

The flowchart in Figure 9.5 is used to determine the required area of chord reinforcement in both directions. The chord
forces in the north-south and east-west directions are determined in Part 3(e) of Step 4 above.
1. Seismic forces in the north-south direction

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Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Diaphragms

For seismic forces in the north-south direction, the chord forces are equal to 14.1 kips and 21.0 kips, and the required
areas of chord reinforcement are determined by Equation (8.4) of this publication:

At 55.7 ft from column line 1:

At 60.0 ft from column line 1:

At column lines A and G, provide 1-#5 chord bar (provided ). These chord bars can be
located just outside the cross-section of the beams in the moment frames (see Figure 8.2). Placing the bars at these
locations makes the length of the moment arm equal to about 0.97 times the depth of the diaphragm, which is approxi-
mately equal to the assumed length of 0.95 times the depth of the diaphragm.

Because the portions of the slab along column lines B and F act as collectors for seismic forces in the east-west direc-
tion, the larger of the area of chord reinforcement determined above for seismic forces in the north-south direction
(which is equal to 0.39 in.2) and the area of collector reinforcement determined in Step 11 below will be provided along
these column lines.

2. Seismic forces in the east-west direction

For seismic forces in the east-west direction, the required areas of chord reinforcement are equal to the following:

At 72.0 ft from column line A:

At 24.0 ft from column line A:

At column lines 1 and 7, provide 1-#5 bar (provided ) located just outside the cross-section
of the beams in the moment frames. For simpler detailing, provide 1-#5 bar (provided ) ad-
jacent to column line 4. These bars must be fully developed in tension into the slab. One method to accomplish this is
to develop the axial tension force in the chord reinforcement through shear transfer. The required development length is
determined by dividing the axial force in the reinforcing bar(s) by the shear capacity of the diaphragm. In this case, the
axial tension force corresponding to 1-#5 chord bar is equal to . The design shear strength
of the diaphragm is determined using Equation (7.3) of this publication where and the shear reinforcement,
, is conservatively taken equal to zero:

Therefore, the development length . These reinforcing bars are extended one bay length to the
north and south of column lines B and F, respectively (extending the reinforcement in this fashion corresponds more
closely to the layout that could be obtained from a strut-and-tie model at that corner of the diaphragm). To ensure
continuity at the corners, the chord reinforcement along column lines A and G is lap-spliced to the chord reinforcement
along column line 4 using a Class B tension lap splice length.

• Step 7 – Determine the Diaphragm Shear Reinforcement

The flowchart in Figure 9.6 is used to determine the area of shear reinforcement, if required.

The largest factored unit shear force in the diaphragm is equal to 0.57 kips/ft, which occurs along column line 7 for the seis-
mic force in the south direction (see Part 3(f) in Step 4 above). The design shear strength of the diaphragm is determined
using Equation (7.3) of this publication where based on ordinary reinforced concrete moment frames resisting

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