Title:
Slab-Wall Connections Under Lateral Forces
Author(s):
S. Pantazopoulou and I. Imran
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
89
Issue:
5
Appears on pages(s):
515-527
Keywords:
connections; diaphragms; earthquakes; loads (forces); shear properties; slabs; stresses; structural design; walls; Structural Research
DOI:
10.14359/2963
Date:
9/1/1992
Abstract:
Connections between floor slabs and shearwalls constitute an essential link in the lateral load-resisting mechanism of slab-wall and frame-wall systems, and their performance can influence the pattern and distribution of lateral forces among the vertical elements of a structure. Design of these connections is currently governed by the code requirements for walls and diaphragms that were originally developed for shearwalls. In this paper, parameters that affect connection stiffness and shear resistance are investigated using experimental evidence and simple mechanical models. It is found that for low reinforcement ratios such as those frequently used in designing slabs, the existing requirements for walls and diaphragms may overestimate the nominal shear resistance of connections by as much as 100 percent. Experimental evidence suggests that gravity loads and a cyclic load history further reduce the nominal resistance. Alternative design equations are derived in this study using a plane-stress approach. Results obtained for a range of reinforcement ratios corroborate the experimental findings.