Design of Floor Slabs Coupling Shear Walls

A finite element analysis is made of the bending moments and shear forces in a floor slab coupling a pair of laterally loaded plane shear walls in order to give guidance on the design of the slab. Contour diagrams and design curves showing the variation of critical bending moment factors are presented to facilitate a rapid evaluation of the slab stresses induced by coupling action. Based on an appraisal of the interactive shear forces between wall and slab, a design procedure is suggested for checking against punching shear failure in the slab.