UNDERSTANDING

BEHAVIOUR OF SLAB
UNDER LATERAL FORCE
BY
VENKATASALAM K L
DESIGN ENGINEER
LERA CONSULTING STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
MUMBAI
SHEAR BUILDING AND CANTILEVER BUILDING

Reference: Google Images

SHEAR BUILDING AND CANTILEVER BUILDING

Reference: Google
SHEAR BUILDING AND CANTILEVER BUILDING

Reference: NEHRP Design Brief

 APPLYING LAERAL LOADS ON STRUCTURE

How/Where to apply the calculated lateral load?

Reference: Google Images

PLAN VIEW
 APPLYING LAERAL LOADS ON STRUCTURE

Correct way of applying EQ load

ELEVATION VIEW PLAN VIEW

• Each finite mass of the slab will be excited during EQ event. So applying as UDL (In the plane of slab)
will make more sense
• Time Consuming. To avoid this flexible, semi rigid and rigid diaphragm concepts came into play

Reference: Google Images

 WHAT DO WE MEAN BY DIAPHRAGM?

• Horizontal elements that transfer forces in the horizontal plane

• Diaphragm also carries vertical gravity loads, but the focus is on in plane horizontal loads
• Diaphragm is an integral part of the lateral system
• It might also be important to the gravity system
Reference: NEHRP Design Brief
 WHY THIS PRESENTATION?

• Diaphragm model can significantly affect structural behavior, including force distribution
• Diaphragm is often modeled using rigid diaphragm or with Semi rigid diaphragm approaches
• In both approaches, designer might be blinded to the load path
• One of the most common sources of design mistakes

Reference: NEHRP Design Brief

 SHELL Vs PLATE Vs MEMBRANE

As lateral loads are in-plan loads, it is necessary to understand shell, plate and membrane

Membrane element

In plane action only. Out of plane stiffness is ‘0’. Can also be defined as: plate element has
only in plan DOF’s

Plate element

Out of plane action only. No in-plan force transfer. Can also be defined as: plate element has
only out of plan DOF’s

Shell element

Shell is a combination of membrane and shell. i.e it can take in-plan and out of plan forces
 SHELL Vs PLATE Vs MEMBRANE

MEMBRANE PLATE

+ = SHELL
Reference: Bentley Webinar
 TYPES OF DIAPHRAGM
Flexible Diaphragms

Axial/Flexural stiffness of the diaphragm is totally ignored as the stiffness is negligible.

Loads are distributed to LFRS based on tributary area.
Example: Floors made of thin steel plates,..

Semi Rigid Diaphragms

Actual stiffness is taken into account to understand the structural behavior.

Loads are distributed to LFRS based on stiffness of slab and LFRS.
Example: Classified based on L/D ratio.

Rigid Diaphragm

Axial stiffness is considered to be very high (i.e Lateral Inplane Deflection remains same at
all nodes in the slab) and loads are distributed to LFRS based on LFRS’s stiffness only.
TYPES OF DIAPHRAGM

Reference: Bentley Webinar

 Modelling Flexible Diaphragms

Flexible Diaphragm

No diaphragms modelled

No interaction between frames and diaphragm

Nodal loads applied to joints

Reference: Bentley Webinar

 Modelling Rigid Diaphragms

Rigid Diaphragm

Semi Rigid Diaphragm

Reference: Bentley Webinar

IS CODAL DEFINITIONS

PLAN VIEW
Reference: IS 1893-2016
 ASCE CODAL DEFINITIONS

DEFINITIONS AVAILABLE IN 2 PLACES

CHAPTER-12 : SEISMIC CLAUSES

CHAPTER-26 : WIND CLAUSES

Reference: ASCE 7-16

ASCE CODAL DEFINITIONS

Reference: ASCE 7-16

 IBC 2015 DEFINITION

Section 1604.4 Analysis:

“ A diaphragm is rigid for the purpose of distribution of story

shear and torsional moment when lateral deformation of the
diaphragm is less than or equal to two times the average
story drift”

Reference: IBC 2015

 LATERAL LOADS ON SLAB RIGID Vs SEMI RIGID Vs FLEXIBLE

Rigid Diaphragm

Lateral load which is calculated using equivalent

static method is applied at center of mass

Semi Rigid Diaphragm

Lateral load which is calculated using equivalent static

method is applied as UDL in proportion to the seismic
mass distribution (In plan)

Flexible Diaphragm

Lump calculated lateral mass at beam column joint and

do not model slab
HOW STIFFNESS/DISPLACEMENT MATRIX WILL LOOK FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIAPHRAGM?

Semi Rigid Diaphragm

No change in displacement/stiffness (shell) – Looks same as you see in standard books

Flexible diaphragm

Not Applicable, as slab not modelled

Rigid Diaphragm

No change in stiffness matrix, but there are changes in displacement/load matrices

HOW STIFFNESS/DISPLACEMENT MATRIX WILL LOOK FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIAPHRAGM?

Rigid Diaphragm

No change in stiffness matrix, but there are

changes in displacement matrix.

Displacement matrix

Reference: CSI ETABS Analysis reference manual

 NO OF EQUATIONS TO BE SOLVED SEMI RIGID Vs RIGID Vs FLEXIBLE

Structure definition

No. of nodes at slab level – 54

No. of nodes at ground – 4
DOF at each node – 6

Semi Rigid Diaphragm

[K] * [δsr] = [P]

Total no of equations to be solved – 348

Calculation: (54*6) + (4*6) = 348

Reference: CSI ETABS Analysis reference manual

 NO OF EQUATIONS TO BE SOLVED - SEMI RIGID Vs RIGID Vs FLEXIBLE

Rigid Diaphragm

[K] * [δr] = [P]

Total no of equations to be solved – 189

Calculation: (54*3) + 3 +(4*6) = 189

Flexible Diaphragm

[K] * [δf] = [P]

Total no of equations to be solved – 48

Calculation: (4*6) + (4*6) = 48

Reference: CSI ETABS Analysis reference manual
ANALYSIS RESULTS COMPARISON FLEXIBLE Vs RIGID - LFRS
FLEXIBLE RIGID

PLAN VIEW PLAN VIEW

Reference: SEFI Discussion
ANALYSIS RESULTS COMPARISON FLEXIBLE Vs SEMI RIGID Vs RIGID – SLAB

Rigid Diaphragm

As displacement is constant over entire slab,

the stresses/moments will be “0”

Semi Rigid Diaphragm

Stresses/moments can be extracted and used

for design

Flexible Diaphragm

As slab not modelled, results not available

FOR A GIVEN STRUCTURE WHICH TYPE OF DIAPHRAGM SHOULD WE PREFER?

There are guidelines available in ACI 318-19, ASCE 7-16, IBC 2015

Selection of diaphragm depends on material, thickness, stiffness of the slab, L/D ratio,..

A diaphragm which is rigid for EQ (Ex. L/D = 2.5), is semi rigid for wind loads.

Reference: SEFI Discussion

ELEMENTS OF FLOOR DIAPHRAGM

Reference: NEHRP Design Brief

 LATERAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION TO LFRS DEPENDS ON STIFFNESS MODIFIERS AS WELL

- When stress demand exceeds 0.5*sqrt(fck) – concrete cracks in tension (direct tension)

- How do we account for this in analysis model?

- Stiffness Modifier!!! (Modify stiffness of the slab)

- Calculate the effective moment of inertia (Ie) – Based on amount of cracking

Ie/Ig = Stiffness modifier

- As reaction moments depends on cracked moment of inertia, we need to input actual

MOI / Stiffness modifier

- Is it possible to calculate eff. MOI at all cross sections? Say you have 100000 nodes.
Is that practical?
 LATERAL LOAD DISTRIBUTION TO LFRS DEPENDS ON STIFFNESS MODIFIERS AS WELL

- Codes came up with upper bound and lower bound stiffness modifier*

- Instead of calculating modifiers at all cross section, apply code prescribed modifiers.
(i.e make one model using upper bound and other model using lower bound. Extract
design forces in both the model and design for higher demand

Ie - Effective Moment of inertia

Ig - Gross Moment of Inertia
Mcr - Cracking
Ma - Actual Moment

Reference: ACI 318-14 and ACI 318-19

 CONCLUSION

• Diaphragm analysis and design is crucial step in building design. Ignoring diaphragm
will lead loss in load path of the structure

• Selection of diaphragm will affect your results a lot. Read ASCE and ACI for selecting
diaphragm

• Stiffness modifier will play a vital is analysis of the building as concrete cracks

• Diaphragm design for steel building is slightly different when compared to concrete
buildings. The same procedure which was discussed cannot be used there (Ultimately
principle remains same: Totransfer lateral loads to foundation)
REFERENCES
THANK YOU