 17 MAY 2020

 BY OMOTORIOGUN VICTOR

Designing a Shear-wall to Eurocode

The Eurocode defines a wall as a

vertical or near-vertical structural element with a breadth and length that is
greater than 4 times its thickness. Although a minimum thickness of 150 mm
is possible for a wall, it is recommended that 180-250 mm aid detailing and
construction. A wall’s thickness is determined based on the forces it is being
subjected to, required fire resistance, durability and buildability.
In the last post, we derived the actions on the shear wall of a building. It was
shown that there are three types of actions a shear wall is required to
withstand: axial forces, in-plane bending and transverse bending out of the
plane of the wall. In this post, we are going to consider how to design concrete
shear walls according to Eurocode 2.
The procedure for designing a concrete wall is very similar to the design of
concrete columns. Slenderness must be checked about the minor axes of the
wall, the design moment determined by considering the effect of imperfections
and second-order effect if critical. Finally, reinforcement is provided using
column interaction charts.
Slenderness
Walls just like columns are required to resist compression forces, hence
slenderness could be critical in the minor axis (perpendicular to the plane of
the wall). The slenderness of a wall is defined by the ratio of the effective
height to the thickness of the wall. Similar to columns, when a wall is slender
its resistance to bending moments and axial forces are reduced and thus
second-order effect will need to be considered.
Section 5.6.2 in the Manual for the design of concrete buildings to Eurocode 2
explains that it is possible to simplify the process of determining the
slenderness of concrete walls by using the following expressions
h
l
o
z
≤
4.38(1.7−
M
2,
z
M
1,
z
)ξnotslender
h
l
o
z
>
4.38(1.7−
M
2,
z
M
1,
z
)ξslender
Where:
M1Z and M2z are the smaller and larger minor axis bending moments on the
considered span respectively.
ξ is a function of the applied design axial load (NEd) per metre length of the
wall and is defined as:
ξ=
0.69
N
E
d
(1+2ω)
(1000hf
c
k
)
≥
1.0
whereω=
1.53
1000h
f
c
k
A
s
or
0.003
f
c
k
f
y
k
ifA
s
isunknown
 fyk is the tensile or characteristic yield strength of reinforcement,
 fck is the characteristic cylinder compressive strength of the concrete
 h is the thickness of the wall
 loz is the effective height of the wall along its minor axis As is the area of
vertical reinforcement in the wall

The effective length of the wall along it minor axis can be determined by
applying coefficients in Table 1 or using the detailed procedure in BS EN
1992-1-1.
Figure 1: Effective length factor in the minor axis1
Determination of Design Forces
Minor Axis Bending
The minor axis moment is treated the same way as a concrete column. If the
wall is slender second-order effects must be considered and the wall must be
designed for additional bending moments. Generally, the design moment
about the minor axis of a concrete wall is given as:
M
E
d
=
max{M
2
;M
z
i
+N
E
d
(e
2
z
+e
a
)}
Where:
M1=is the smaller end moment in the minor axis of the wall derived from
analysis
M2=is the larger end moment in the minor axis of the wall derived from
analysis
Mzi=is the applied minor axis bending moment that is derived from analysis
M
z
i
=
0.6M
2
+
0.4M
1
≥
0.4M
2
e2z =is the deflection of the wall in its minor axis due to axial factored design
actions and needs to be considered only if the wall is slender.
e
2
z
=
f
y
k
(
d
l
0
z
2
)⋅
10
−6
inmm
ea is the eccentricity of the applied design axial force due to ‘out of plumb’
state of the wall during construction. This is defined as:
2
θ
i
l
0
z
where θi is a notional drift of the wall as stipulated (in mm) in Table 2.

Table 2: Notional inclination of Walls

 fyk  is the characteristic strength of reinforcement in N/mm2

 d is the effective depth of reinforcement (mm) within the wall in its minor
axis.
Major Axis Bending
In the plane of the wall, the magnitude of the applied actions is determined by
splitting the wall into some series of 1m strips. These can each be considered
subject to axial compression and minor axis bending only, with the design of
reinforcement based on the extreme fibre stresses in the wall (ft). Thus, in any
1 m section of the wall idealized. All applicable axial forces and bending
moments are applied to each segment being considered, and each unit length
is treated as a structural column see (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Split of Walls into Strips
The extreme stresses of the fibers can be determined with the following
formula.
f
t
=
L
h
N
±
hL
2
6M
Where

 N= is the design axial force in the 1m strip of wall

 L= is the overall length of the wall
 h= is the overall thickness of the wall
 M= is the applied design major axis bending moment in the segment of
the wall.
The resulting stress is then multiplied by the wall thickness (h) to create a
stress per metre. The reinforcement can then be determined using a column
design methodology where the bending of the minor axis as well as the axial
stresses due to both the major axis bending and the axial forces are applied.
There’s a simplified approach that can be applied in instances where there is
no significant minor axis bending moments being applied to a wall e.g. when
supporting slabs of the same span and depth are either side of the wall. See
section 5.6.4.1. of the Institution of Structural Engineer’s Manual for the
design of concrete building structures to Eurocode 2.
Detailing Requirement
The detailing rules for reinforced concrete walls are defined in Clauses
9.6.2(1) and 9.6.3(1) of BS EN 1992-1-1 and can be summarised as follows
Area of Steel

 The minimum of 0.002 Ac split between both layers for vertical

reinforcement, near and far face.
 The maximum area of vertical reinforcement is set at 0.04 Ac
 For horizontal reinforcement, the minimum is either 25% of the provided
vertical reinforcement or 0.001 Ac, whichever is greater
 The minimum size of the bar for horizontal reinforcement is 0.25 times
the diameter of the vertical reinforcement.

where: Ac is the overall cross section area of the wall

Spacing
The vertical bar spacing must not exceed 300 mm or 3 times the thickness of
the wall, whichever is lower.
Where vertical reinforcement exceeds 2 percent of the cross-sectional area
within any wall segment of 1 m wide, containment links shall be provided in
similar fashion to concrete columns.  
Worked Example
A 24m tall, 5.0m long and 200mm thick reinforced concrete shear wall is
required to support a 200mm thick flat slab and in addition, provide lateral
support to the 8 storey building in its plane. There are 8 columns between the
shear wall and the next wall. Design the reinforcement in the wall at its base
and mid-height. Assuming the wall is to be constructed from C30/37 concrete
with a yield strength of 500Mpa. The critical design actions on this wall are
presented in table 1. Take storey heights =3m
Axial Load In-plane Moment Transverse Moment
Position
(kN) (kN.m) (kN.m)
Mid-height 1430.1 3240 72.7
Base 2862 12960 72.7
The data for this example is taken from the previous post. See Analysis of
Shear Walls
Determination of Axial Forces in Wall
At Mid height
f
t
=
L
h
N
±
hL
2
6M
=
5000×200
1430.1×1
0
3
±
200×500
2
6×3240×10
6
=
1.43±
3.89
f
t
=
5.32N/mm
2
or2.46N/mm
2
forceinwallN
max,1
=
5.32×
200
=
1064kN/m
At the Base
f
t
=
L
h
N
±
hL
2
6M
=
5000×20
0
2862×10
3
±
200×500
2
6×12960×10
6
=
2.86±
15.55
f
t
=
18.41N/mm
2
or12.69N/mm
2
forceinwallN
max,2
=
18.41×
200
=
3682kN/m
Slenderness Verification
Slenderness verification is more critical for the stack at the base than that at
mid-height, therefore the check will be carried out for the base stack only.
ω=
0.003
f
c
k
f
y
k
=
0.003×
30
50
0
=
0.05
ξ=
0,69
N
max
(1+2ω)
(1000hf
c
k
)

≥
1.0
=
0.69
3682×10
3
(1+2⋅0.05)(1000×200×30)

=
0.92≥
1
M
1
z
=
−72.7kN.mM
2
z
=
72.7kN.m
The wall support a flat slab that is as thick as the wall at the top and bottom.
Therefore the effective length coefficient = 0.75
l
o
z
=
0.75×
3000=
2250mm
h
l
o
z
≤
4.38(1.7−
M
2,
z
M
1,
z
)ξ
225
225
0
≤
4.38(1.7−
72.7
−72.7
)⋅
1
11.25<<
11.83
∴
Wallisnotslender
Minor Axis Bending Moment
M
Ed,
z
=
max(M
2
;M
z
i
+N
E
d
(e
2
z
+e
a
))
M
2
z
=
0.6M
2
z
+
0.2M
1
z
≥
0.4M
2
z
=
0.6(72.7)+
0.4(−72.7)≥
0.4(72.7)
=
29.08kN.m
e
2
z
=
0(wallisnotslender)
e
a
=
2
θ
i
l
0
z
2
;θ
i
=
40
0
1
(interpolating)
=
2
1/400×2250
=
2.81mm
At Mid-height
M
Ed,
z
=
max{72.7;29.08+1604(0+2.81)}
=
72.7kN.m
At Base
M
Ed,
z
=
max{72.7;29.08+3682(0+2.81)}
=
72.7kN.m
Reinforcement Design
Column interaction charts will be used in providing reinforcement in the wall.
Assuming concrete cover =30mm, 16mm vertical bars and 10mm horizontal
bars, effective depth is:
d=
200−
(30+10+16/2+10)=
142mm
h
d
=
20
0
14
2
=
0.71usechartof
h
d
=
0.8
Mid-height
b
h
2
f
c
k
M
=
1000×20
0
2
×30
72.7×10
6
=
0.06
bh
f
c
k
N
=
1000×200×30
1064×10
6
=
0.18
fromchart
bh
f
c
k
A
s
f
y
k
=
0.1
A
s,re
q
=
500
0.1×(1000×200×30)
=
1200mm
2
This is the area of steel required in both faces of the wall. The area of steel
required per face is half this value.
2
A
s,re
q
=
2
120
0
=
600mm
2
/m/face
UseH16−
250mmcentres
(A
s,pro
v
=
804mm
2
/m)
Base
b
h
2
f
c
k
M
=
1000×20
0
2
×30
72.7×10
6
=
0.06
bh
f
c
k
N
=
1000×200×30
3682×10
6
=
0.61
fromchart
bh
f
c
k
A
s
f
y
k
=
0.25
A
s,re
q
=
500
0.25×(1000×200×30)
=
3000mm
2
/m
This is the area of steel required in both faces of the wall. The area of steel
required per face is half this value.
2
A
s,re
q
=
2
300
0
=
1500mm
2
/m/face
UseH16−
125mmcentres(A
s,pro
v
=
1608mm
2
/m)
Detailing Checks
Minimum Area of Steel
A
s,mi
n
=
0.002A
c
=
0.002×
1000×
200
=
400mm
2
/m
Reinforcementperface=
2
400
=
200mm
2
/m
A
s,pro
v
=
(804,1608)mm
2
>
200mm
2
o.k
Horizontal Reinforcement
A
s
=
max{0.25A
spr
o
;0.001A
c
}
max(0.25×
1608or0.001×
200×
10
3
)
=
402mm
2
/m
UseH12−
250mmcentres
(A
s,pro
v
=452mm
2
/m)
This design assumes that the base is sufficient to withstand the overturning
moment. For practical purposes, the tension at the base of the wall must be
resisted by the weight of the foundation. If piles are used, the piles must be
designed to resist tension.
Further Reading & References
The Institution of Structural Engineers (2006) Manual for the design of
concrete building structures to Eurocode 2, London: The Institution of
Structural Engineers.
The Institution of Structural Engineers (2012/2013) Technical Guidance Notes
1-5 and 17 (Level 1) and 3 (Level 2), The Structural Engineer, 90 (1-3, 10)
and 91 (3).
The Concrete Centre (2009) Worked Examples to Eurocode 2: Volume 1
[Online] http://www.concretecentre.com/pdf/
Worked_Example_Extract_Slabs.pdf (Accessed: March 2014).
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