CHAPTER 10—STRUCTURAL REINFORCED CONCRETE WALLS 395

10.4.3. The vertical (longitudinal) reinforcement is mostly

effective in resisting this type of shear through shear fric-
tion. Separation at the crack engages the vertical reinforce-
ment in tension, creating a clamping force and increased
resistance to shear. The vertical reinforcement is fully effec-
tive for wall height-to-length ratios (hw/Ɛw) of 0.5 or less.
As this ratio increases above 0.5, the horizontal (transverse)
reinforcement begins to provide a portion of the resistance.
At a height-to-length ratios exceeds 2.5, the horizontal rein-
forcement provides most of the shear strength and the shear
behavior is more like a beam.
This change in shear behavior is accounted for in the
minimum reinforcement requirement according to Eq.
(11.6.2) of ACI 318-14.

⎛ h ⎞
ρA ≥ 0.0025 + 0.5 ⎜ 2.5 − w ⎟ (ρt − 0.0025) (11.6.2)
⎝ Aw ⎠ Fig. 10.4.1—Effective wall horizontal length.

ZKHUHȡtVKDOOEHDWOHDVWȡt is calculated according

to Section 11.5.4.8 of ACI 318-14. If this value is less than a
reinforcement ratio of 0.0025, then the minimum reinforce-
nforcement is
ment ratio for both horizontal and vertical reinforcement
ment excee
0.0025. If the required shear reinforcement exceeds 0.0025,

Walls
en
Eq. (11.6.2) of ACI 318-14 assures that enough longitudinal
ded ffor shear-friction resis-
(vertical) reinforcement is provided
tance in squatter walls. At hw/ƐƐw ””  ȡƐ computed from m
(TFRXOGH[FHHGȡt required
qui by
y 11.5.4.8. How
However,ver,
KDW ƐH[FHHGȡ
(TGRHVQRWUHTXLUHWKDWȡ FHHG t calculated
ulated by
Fig. 10.4.3—Shear
4.3— in squat w
walls.
11.5.4.8. At hw/Ɛw !  DQG” 
 (T
T SURYL
SURYLGHVHV D
minimum amount of longitudinal re cement that cha
reinforcement changes es
OLQHDUO\IURPȡt required at an hw/Ɛw oof 0.5 to hw/Ɛ
/ w off 22.5. At
hw/Ɛw > 2.5, the transverse (horizontal) reinforcement is fully
HQJDJHGDQGDPLQLPXPDȡƐ of 0.0025 is provided.
)RURUGLQDU\VWUXFWXUDOZDOOVWKHD[LDODQGÀH[XUDOVWUHQJWK WK
is calculated according to Section 22.4 of ACI 318-14,
as discussed in 10.4.2 of this Handbook. Concrete shear
strength Vc is calculated according to Table 11.5.4.6 (ACI
318-14), and shear reinforcement strength Vs is calculated
according to Section 11.5.4.8 (ACI 318-14). The maximum
nominal shear strength Vn is, according to Section 11.5.4.3
Vn ≤ 10 f c′hd
)RU VSHFLDO VWUXFWXUDO ZDOOV WKH D[LDO DQG ÀH[XUDO
strength may also be calculated according to Section 22.4
of ACI 318-14, which is discussed in 10.4.2 of this Hand-
book. Section 18.10 in ACI 318-14 implies that a wall is
(a) Shear
hear stress is calcul
calculated over Acv instead of hd. Acv is
ngth of th
typically the length the wall, Ɛw, multiplied by the width of
the wall web,eb, h (ACI 318-14, Section 18.10.4.1).
b) Minimum reinforcement is approximately the same:
(b)
i F
i. For ordinary structural walls, the minimum reinforce-
ment is according to Table 11.6.1 (ACI 318-14) for Vu
OHVV WKDQ ࢥVc RU ࢥhdȜ fc′ (ACI 318-14, Section
11.6.1).
ii. For special structural walls, the minimum rein-
forcement is according to Table 11.6.1 for Vu less than
AcvȜ fc′ (ACI 318-14, Section 18.10.2.1).
2WKHUZLVHWKHPLQLPXPUHLQIRUFHPHQWUDWLRIRUȡtDQGȡƐ
is 0.0025 (ACI 318-14, Section 18.10.2.1).
(c) For hw/Ɛw   ȡƐ VKDOO EH DW OHDVW ȡt (ACI 318-14,
Section 18.10.4.3).
(d) For Vu greater than 2 AcvȜ fc′ or hw/Ɛw •  WZR
curtains of reinforcement are required (ACI 318-14, Section
18.10.2.2).
squat when the height-to-length ratio is less than 2.0. For
walls with hw/Ɛw < 2.0, the displacement method of Section
18.10.6.2 (ACI 318-14) does not apply, leaving only the
stress-based method of Section 18.10.6.3 (ACI 318-14) to
determine if boundary elements are necessary. If boundary
elements are not necessary, the design of a special structural
wall is similar to an ordinary structural wall. A more detailed
discussion about boundary elements is given in 10.4.4 of this
Handbook. Key differences in squat wall shear design for
special structural walls versus ordinary structural walls are
American Concrete Institute – Copyrighted © Material – www.concrete.org
H/RQJLWXGLQDOUHLQIRUFHPHQWPXVWH[WHQGƐw beyond
the point where it is no longer required (ACI 318-14, Section
18.10.2.3(a)).
(f) At locations where yielding of longitudinal reinforce-
ment is expected, development lengths shall be 1.25fy in
tension (ACI 318-14, Section 18.10.2.3(b)).
10.4.4 Axial and in-plane loads, slender walls—The term
“slender walls” is used if the predominant failure mode is
ÀH[XUH%RXQGDU\HOHPHQWVDUHRIWHQUHTXLUHGZKLFKRIIHU
LQFUHDVHG ÀH[XUDO VWUHQJWK HQKDQFHG FXUYDWXUH FDSDFLW\