Frame members not intended to be part of the lateral-load resisting system

A large number of reinforced concrete buildings were damaged during the 1994 Northridge earthquake
when columns that were designed to resist only gravity loads failed. Codes distinguish between the
lateral-load resisting system and gravity-load resisting system, and the detailing provisions are different
for members that are not intended to carry lateral loads. However, the building must deform as a single
unit. Therefore, all members must have sufficient reinforcement details to behave in a ductile manner
when pushed into the inelastic region of response during an earthquake.

21.11.1 - Overview

In previous versions of the code, the designer had to subject each of the frame members that were not
assumed to contribute to the lateral resistance to twice the calculated lateral displacements under the
factored design loads. These members were then designed for the corresponding moments and shears.
This provision was difficult to interpret, so the 1999 version of ACI 318 gives the designer two options:
subject the member to the design displacements and design accordingly, or use more stringent detailing
provisions for all members. (The change from using twice the design displacement, which was used in
previous codes, to using the design displacement, which is part of the 1999 code, results from the change
in the 1997 UBC to strength design levels. Previous versions of the UBC were based on working stress
design levels.)

21.11.2 - Lateral displacements are calculated and induced forces are low

When the induced moments and shears under the lateral displacements defined in 21.11.1 combined with
the factored moments and shears due to gravity loads do not exceed the nominal flexural and shear
capacities of the frame members, the following provisions apply:

• Beams must satisfy the longitudinal reinforcement requirements in 21.3.2.1 and stirrups must be
spaced at no more than d/2 along the entire length of the member.

• Columns must satisfy the longitudinal reinforcement requirements in 21.4.3, requirements for
hoops and crossties as defined in 21.4.4.1(c) and 21.4.4.3, and design shears are calculated per
21.4.5. The maximum longitudinal spacing of ties may not exceed 6db or 6 in. along the entire
length of the column.

• If the factored gravity axial load exceeds 0.35 Po, the area of transverse reinforcement in the
column must be at least one-half the amount required in 21.4.4.1.

• For the purpose of this analysis, the following combinations of gravity loads must be used:
1.2 D + 1.0 L + 0.2 S or 0.9 D.

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21.11.3 - Lateral displacements are calculated and induced forces are high OR lateral displacements are
not calculated

When the induced moments and shears under the lateral displacements defined in 21.11.1 combined with
the factored moments and shears due to gravity loads do exceed the nominal flexural and shear capacities
of the frame members or if the induced forces are not calculated, the following provisions apply:

• The material properties must satisfy provisions in 21.2.4 and 21.2.5.

• Longitudinal reinforcement in beams must satisfy the provisions in 21.3.2.1, design shears must
be calculated using the provisions in 21.3.4, and stirrups must be spaced at no more than d/2
along the entire length of the member.

• Longitudinal reinforcement in columns must satisfy 21.4.3.1, transverse reinforcement must

satisfy provisions in 21.4.4, design shears must be calculated using the provisions in 21.4.5, and
transverse reinforcement in joints must satisfy the provisions in 21.5.2.1.

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Detailing provisions for intermediate moment frames

21.12.2 -General

Beams must satisfy the provisions in 21.12.4, and columns must satisfy the provisions in 21.12.5. If a
two-way slab system without beams is considered to be part of the lateral-load resisting system, it must
satisfy the provisions in 21.12.6.

21.12.3 - Design shears

Design shears in beams, columns, and two-way slabs must be at least the larger of:

(a) The sum of the shear associated with the development of the nominal flexural capacities of the
member at each restrained end of the clear span and the shear calculated for gravity loads.

(b) The maximum shear obtained from design load combinations which include the earthquake effect
E, where E is assumed to be twice that prescribed by the governing code.

21.12.4 -Reinforcement in beams

All Locations:
max(Mn−1,Mn−2 )
Mn ≥
5
Mn−1 Mn−2

Mn−1 Mn−2
Mn+1 ≥ Mn+2 ≥
3 3

Hoops Stirrups Hoops

2h 2h

Spacing near Midspan:

s < d/2

Spacing near Joint:

s < d/4, 8db, 24db, 12 in.

First hoop is located no more than 2 in. from the

face of the support.

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21.12.5 -Reinforcement in columns

Section 11.11.2

Lo s < so
Lo = h, Ln/6, 18 in. so = 8db, 24db, h/2, b/2, 12 in.

s per 7.10 and 11.5.4.1

First tie may not be

more than so/2 from
the face of the joint. Lo

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21.12.6 – Two-way slabs without beams

The factored slab moment at the support related to earthquake loading shall be determined for the
following load combinations:

U = 1.2D + 1.0E + 1.0L + 0.2S (9-5)

U = 0.9D + 1.0 E+1.6H (9-7)

All reinforcement provided to resist the portion of the slab moment balanced by the support moment, Ms,
must be placed within the column strip, as defined in 13.2.1.

In addition, the reinforcement required to resist γ f M s must be placed within the effective slab width
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defined below. γ f is defined in (13-1) to be: γ f =
1 + (2 / 3) b1 / b 2

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At least 50% of the reinforcement in the column strip must be placed within this effective slab width, and
at least 25% of the negative moment reinforcement in the column strip must be continuous throughout the
span. At least one-third of the negative moment reinforcement in the column strip must be provided as
continuous positive moment reinforcement in the column strip.

At least 50% of the positive moment reinforcement in the middle strip at all the positive moment
reinforcement in the column strip must be continuous and be anchored to develop its yield stress at the
face of the support.

Many laboratory specimens exhibited limited ductility when the shear at the column was large.
Therefore, a limit is placed on the shear stress under gravity loads, 0.4φVc , to reduce the likelihood of
punching shear failures and premature loss of the ability to carry lateral forces.