118 Chapter Three

The roof dead load has been determined by prior analysis. The roof dead load D of 10 psf has been
converted to the load on a horizontal plane. The masonry walls are 8-in. medium-weight concrete
block units with cells grouted at 16 in. o.c. For this construction, the wall dead load D is 60 psf.

Building Period T. and Design Spectral Response Accelerations Sns and Sm

To start, the building fundamental period will be estimated in accordance with the approximate
method introduced in Sec. 2.14:

T.=C1 ~

T. = 0.020(14)0.75 = 0.145 sec

As in Example 3.5, from the maximum considered earthquake ground motion maps, the mapped
short-period spectral acceleration Ss is 2.05g, and the mapped one-second spectral acceleration Si
is 0.91g.
For Site Class D, ASCE 7 Table 11.4-1 [Link] a value of 1.0 for site coefficient F•. Table 11.4-2
[Link] a value of 1.7 for F"' but through footnote a, also imposes the requirements of Section 11.4.8.
Section 11.4.8 triggers the requirement for a site-specific response spectrum to be developed. A
consultant familiar with the site soils would need to develop a site-specific version of the simplified
spectra seen in Figure 2.17 of this text or Figure 11.4-1 of ASCE 7. For our example building, however,
we can use Exception 2 that exempts us from getting a site specific spectrum.. provided we multiply C,
by 1.5 between periods of 1.5 T, and T1• This is going to have the effect of lengthening the short period
plateau controlled by Sos to a period of 1.5 times T,. We will proceed with the example using F, and F.
equal to 1.0 and 1.7. Using this information, the maximum considered spectral response accelerations
~ and ~' and the design spectral response accelerations Sos and Sm can be calculated:

~=Si;xF. [Link]= Six F.

=2.05gxl.O =0.91gxl.7
=2.05g = 1.54g
Sos=%x~ Soi = % x [Link]
=%x2.05g =%xl.54g
=l.37g =1.03g

The value of Sos can be confirmed against the Example 3.5 table. In addition, from the Sos and Soi
values, T5 can be calculated, and it can be verified that the approximate period T. falls on the level
plateau of the design response spectrum.

T. =Soi = 1.03g = 0.75 sec

s Sos l.37g

Because we are using exception 2 to Section 11.4.8 to avoid a site-specific spectrum. the Sos plateau
will extend out to 1.5 T, or 1.31 seconds, at which point it will meet the Sm/T curve that exception 2
required be multiplied by 1.5. This will mean that the short period plateau Sos forces will control
design all the way up to a period of 1.31 seconds. This does not affect our building design, as
the approximate period T. for our building was calculated to be 0.145, so short-period response
acceleration Soc will define the seismic design forces, regardless of exception 2.

B1m Shear Force V, Story (Sheiirwall) Force F,, 1111d Story (Diiiphragm) Force F,.,,
For this one-story building in Seismic Design Category E, the base shear force, story (shearwall)
force, and story (diaphragm) force will all use the same seismic force coefficient. The seismic base
shear can be calculated as:

V=C.W
 Behavior of Structures under Loads and Forces 119

and, for short-period buildings

C = Sr,sI,
' R
For this building, Sos has just been calculated as 1.37g. In this case, the importance factor I,
is taken as 1.0, and R is taken as 5 for a bearing wall system with special reinforced masonry
shearwalls. This resullli in
C = 1.37gx 1.0
• 5
=0.274g
This is the strength level seismic coefficient for the base shear, the story (shearwall) forces, and the
story (diaphragm) forces.

Seismic Force
For a one-story building, the uniform force to the diaphragm can be obtained by multiplying the
seismic coefficient by the weight of a 1-ft-wide strip of dead load (Wi) tributary to the roof level.

W1 = roof dead load D = 10 psf x 50 ft =500lb/ft

+wall dead load D = 60 psf x 11 ft x 2 walls = 1320
W1 =1820 lb/ft
W~ = 0.274W1 = 0.274(1820)

w~ = 499 lb/ft csoo lb/ft will be used)

RedJ111dancy/Reliability Factor p
The ASCE 7 equations for seismic force are:
E = ~ + 0.2ScsD
and

E= ~- 0.25a,D
where ~ is the force acting horizontally, and o.25os0 is a vertical force component. The
redundancy/reliability factor pis a multiplier on the horizontal forces, including the base shear
force, the story (shearwall) force, and the story (diaphragm) force.
ASCE 7 Sec. [Link] requires that p be 1.3 for all structures in SOC D, E, or F, unless the structure is
qualified for a p of 1.0 using one of two possible methods. Both methods require further evaluation of
each story that resists more than35 percent of the base shear force. ASCE 7 Sec. [Link] Item b applies
only to buildings that are regular in plan at all levels (no irregularities are triggered). It requires that
there be two qualifying shearwalls in the building perimeter at all sides in each evaluated story.
For wood-frame shearwall buildings, the length of each shearwall is to be not less than one-half the
story height. For other wall types, the length of each wall is required to be not less than the height
of the story. If the required perimeter shearwalls are provided, the structure will qualify for p of 1.0.
Our example building has been assumed to have a regular configuration. Assuming the building
is 110 ft long and 50 ft wide and has 20 ft of door or window openings in each wall, this leaves 90 ft
of solid shearwall in the longitudinal walls and 30 ft in the transverse walls. The story height is
approximately 14 ft, per Figure 3.10. To qualify for p ofl.O by Item b, a minimum shearwall length of
2 x 14 ft or 28 ft needs to be provided at each exterior wall. This 28 ftwill need to include two sections
not less than 14 ft each. It will be assumed that this criterion is met, and sop will be taken as 1.0.

Wind and Seismic Forces in Load Combinatimis

Wmd and seismic forces must be used in ASD or [Link] load combinations with appropriate load
factors. The load combinations are simplified by the fact that often only wind or seismic forces will
be causing load in the plane of the shearwalls and diaphragms.
120 Chapter Three

ASD load combinations with E or W:

D+0.6W
D + 0.75L + 0.75(0.6W) + 0.75(L,. or S or R)
0.6D+0.6W
[Link]+ 0.7E,, + 0.7E:ii
1.0D + 0.525Ey + 0.5251!,, + 0.75L + 0.755
0.6D + 0.7E,, + 0.7E:ii
With only E or W acting in the plane of the diaphragm, the forces are simplified to 0.7F,, and 0.6W
for ASD design of the diaphragm shear capacity.
LRFD load combinations with E or W:
1.20 + 1.6(L,. or Sor R) +(Lor 0.5W)
1.20 + [Link] + L + 0.5(L,. or R or S)
0.9D+[Link]
1.2D +E..+ F,, + L+0.25
0.90 - E.. + Bi,
With only E or W acting in the plane of the diaphragm, the forces are simplified to 1.0F,, or 1.0W
for LRFD design of the diaphragm shear capacity.
1he story (diaphragm) F,.. forces are compared with wind loading as follows:

ASDDesign; 0.7E with p = 1.0 gives 0.7E = 0.7(1.0)(500 plf) = 350 plf
R = 350 plf (110 ft/2) = 19,250 lb
0.6W = 0.6(11,000)
R =6600 lb
Therefore seismic controls.
LRFD Design: 1.0E = 500 plf
R,, = 500 plf (110 ft/2) = 27,500 lb
1.0 w = 1.0(11,000)
R,, = 11000 lb
Seismic again controls.
Here the reader is reminded that the ASCE 7 definition of Fpx diaphragm design forces includes
a lower bound that must be checked. In this case with R of 5 the seismic force level we have just
calculated matches the lower bound. This will be addressed in more detail in Chapter 9.
Note that the ratio of wind to earthquake reaction is 6600/19,250 = 0.34 for ASD forces and
11,000/27,500 = 0.40 for LRFD forces. This slightly favors use of ASD load combinations where
wind controls. The reader is strongly cautioned against mixing of ASD and LRFD design methods
and load combinations. One or the other should be chosen and used for the full building design.

One of the criteria used to design diaphragms and shearwalls is the unit shear.
Although the design of diaphragms and shearwalls is covered in Chaps. 9 and 10, the
calculation of unit shear is illustrated here. See Example 3.8 for the unit shear in the roof
diaphragm.
For the building in this example subjected to lateral forces in the transverse direc-
tion, the only shearwalls are the exterior end walls. As discussed in Sec. 3.3, ASCE 7
Sec. 12.3 permits wood structural panel diaphragms used in combination with concrete
 Behavior of Structures under Loads and Forces 121
or masonry shearwalls to be modeled as flexible diaphragms for analysis and seismic
force distribution. The deflected shape of the roof diaphragm is shown in Figure 3.11.
The reaction of the diaphragm on the transverse end walls is the reaction of a uniformly
loaded simple beam with a span length equal to the distance between shearwalls. The
shear diagram for a simple beam shows that the maximum internal shear is equal to the
external reaction. The maximum total shear is converted to a unit shear by distributing
it along the width of the diaphragm available for resisting the shear.
The reader is again cautioned to pay close attention to the subscripts for wind and
seismic loads. The IBC equations define strength level (LRFD) wind and seismic forces,
which are noted in this book with a "u" subscript (e.g., wu = 500 lb/ft). Wmd or seismic
forces which have been reduced for use in ASD are shown in this book without the "u"
subscript (e.g., w = 350 lb/ft). Other symbols with and without "u" subscripts have
similar meanings in this book. For example, vu indicates a unit shear calculated with a
strength level force, while vindicates an ASD unit shear.

EXAMPLE 3.8 Unit Shear in Roof Diaphragm

The simple beam strength (LRFD) level loading diagram in Figure 3.11 is a repeat of the loading on
the diaphragm. The simple beam reactions R,, are shown along with the shear diagram.
The free-body diagram at the bottom of Figure 3.11 is cut through the diaphragm a small
distance away from the transverse shearwalls. The unit shear (lb/ft) is obtained by dividing the
maximum total shear from the shear diagram by the width of the diaphragm b.
Diaphragm reaction:

11
__ w.(L) __ 500(110)
.... 2 2 27,5001b=27.50k

For a simple beam, the shear equals the reaction:

VM = R,, = 27.50 k
The unit shear distributes the total shear over the width of the diaphragm. The conventional symbol
for tatal shear is Vw and the unit shear in the diaphragm is assigned the symbol v".

v ~ = v. = 27,500 = lsso lb/ft I

..~ b 50

Seismic Forces in Load Combinatiuns

As was discussed in Example 3.7, seismic forces must be used in ASD or [Link] load combinations
with appropriate load factors. The same load combinations used for Example 3.7 are applicable.
ASD Load Combinations with E:
1.0D + O.J'E,, + 0.7f1.
1.0D + 0.525E_, + 0.525Ei, + 0.75L + 0.755
0.60 - O.J'E,, + 0.7f1.
[Link] Load Combinations with E:
1.20 + E_, +Bi,+ L + 0.2S
0.9D - E_, + Bi,
And again, with only Bi, acting in the plane of the diaphragm, the forces are simplified to 0.7E for
ASD design and 1.0E for LRFD design of the diaphragm shear capacity.
122 Chapter Thee

~ wu = 500 LB/FT

I I I I I I
------ -- ' ~ ~·--- ----
-~D
2II
.S>
PLAN

--- ------ ----i

Ru t \
L = 110'

wu =500 LB/Ff
Ru= 21.50
k

i _,,..,- DIAPHRAGM
t"" UNffSHEAR
vu = 550 LB/FT
t vu =550 LB/FT
f FBD
'c::::;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;::====== t-
RGURE 3.11. Diaphragm unit shear. For simplicity, the calculations for unit shear are shown
using the nominal length L and diaphragm width b (i.e., wan thickness is ignore<!).

The redundancy factor r is taken as 1.0, not only because r was determined to be 1.0 in
Example 3.7, but also becaUBe it am always be taken as 1.0 for diaphragm. Ppx forces. The [Link]
unit shear in the diaphragm [Link]= l.O(r)vu =550 plf. The ASD unit shear in the diaphragm is
0.7E =0.7(r)vu =0.7(550) =385 plf.

The next step in the lateral [Link] design process is to consider similar quantities in
the shearwalls. In determining the uniform. force to the [Link]\o it will be recalled
that seismic forces due to only the dead load D of the roof and the longitudinal walls
was included in the seismic force. The inertial force generated in the transverse walls
 Be ha vi o r of St r uct ure s und er Lo ads a nd Fo r c es 123

was not included in the load to the roof diaphragm. The reason is that the shearwalls
carry directly their own seismic force parallel to the wall. These forces do not, therefore,
contribute to the force or shear in the diaphragm.
Several approaches are used by designers to compute wall seismic forces. The
ASCE 7 requirement is that the wall be designed at the most critical shear location. In
the more common method, the unit shear in the shearwall is evaluated at the midheight
of the wall. See Example 3.9. This convention developed because the length of the
shearwall bis often a minimum at this location. If the wall openings were different than
shown, some location other than midheight might result in critical seismic forces. How-
ever, any openings in the wall (both doors and windows) are typically intersected by a
horizontal line drawn at the midheight of the wall. In addition, using the midheight is
consistent with the lumped-mass seismic model presented in Chap. 2.
The seismic force generated by the top half of the wall is given the symbol R1. It can be
computed as the dead load D of the top portion of the wall times the seismic coefficient The
total shear at the midheight of the wall is the sum of all forces above this level. For a one-
story building, these forces include the reaction from the roof diaphragm R plus the wall
seismic force R1 • The unit shear v may be computed once the total shear has been obtained.
The reader should note that, consistent with earlier examples, Example 3.9 com-
putes the seismic forces to the wall at a strength level. At the end of the calculations, the
strength level force is multiplied by p and used in ASD and LRFD load combinations.

EXAMPLE 3.9 Unit Shear in Shearwall

Determine the total shear and unit shear at the midheight of the shearwall in Figure 3.12. For
simplicity;. ignore the reduction in wall dead load due to the opening (conservative).

Roof Diaphrllgm Seismic Force

Compute the F, story (shearwall) coefficient:

F. story coefficient = SDSir

• R

- 1.37(1.0)
5
=0.274g

Alternatively, this F, coefficient could have been obtained from the seismic table in Example 3.5.
From Example 3.7, the weight of a 1-ft wide strip of dead load (W1 ) tributary to the roof level
is 1820 lb/ft The strength level uniform seismic load to the diaphragm and resulting diaphragm
reaction are:
WM= 0.274W1=0.274(1820) = 500 lb/ft
~ = wwL/2 = 500(110 ft}/2 = 27,500 lb
Wllll Seismic Force
Seismic force generated by the top half of the wall (see Figure 3.12):

Wall area= (11x50) + 1/.J..3 x 50) = 625 ft2

Wall D = 625 ft2 x 60 psf = 37,500 lb (neglect window reduction)
~1 =0.274W

= 0.274(37,500)
=10,300lb
124 Chapter T•ree

50'
15' 20 ' 15'

vu = STRENGTH UNIT SHEAR

AT MID. HT. OF WALL= 1260 L6/FT.

END ELEVATION
RauRE 3.12 Shearwall unit shear. Maximum unit shear occurs at mldhelght of wall.

Wall Shur

Total shear
{ mldhelght of wall
at }={sum of all lorces on [Link] diagram}
of shearwall above mfdheight

V,. =R,. +R,.1 =27,500+10,300=37,SOOJb

Unitwallabear= = v. = 37,800
"· b 15+ 15

1·"..... =U60 Jb/ft I

Seismic Fon:ui in Load O:mtbinfltions

As was discussed in Examples 3.7 and 3.8, seismic: fora'.8 must be used in ASD or LRFD load
combinations with appropriate load factors. The same load combinations used fur Examples 3.7
and 3.8 are applicable.
ASD load combinatiOllS with B:
[Link] + 0.525Ev + 0.525Ei, +0.75L+ 0.75S
0.6D- O.?B., + [Link],
[Link] load combinations with B:
1.2D + E., + B.. + L+0.2S
0.9D-E..+B..
And apin.. with only Ei.. acting in the plane of the shearwall, the fo:rc:es are simplified to 0.7E for
ASD design and [Link] fur LRFD design of the shearwall shear c:apadty.
The redundancy factor pill again taken as 1.0, per Example 3.7. The LRFD unit shear in the
shearwall. is 1.0E = 1.0 (p) "· = 1260 plf. The .ASD unit shear in the shearwall is 0.7E = 0.7 (p) ""=
0.7(1260) =882 plf.

1
For wall openings not symmetrically located, see Sec. 9.6.