Stresses in Slabs Coupling Flanged Shear Walls

Abstract

A finite element analysis has been made of the stress distribution in a slab coupling a pair of laterally loaded flanged shear walls. For a unit relative wall rotation, or relative vertical displacement, distributions of critical bending moments have been determined, and a generalized design curve presented to allow rapid evaluations of the maximum moments in a slab coupling a pair of T‐shaped walls. An investigation of the distributions of interactive shear forces between wall and slab, in conjunction with the usual design assumptions regarding shear failure of similar flat plate structures, has enabled a design technique to be proposed for checking against punching shear failure of the slab. Design curves are also presented for the critical bending moments in slabs coupling plane and T‐shaped walls, and L‐shaped walls.