Two-way (Punching) Shear Calculations for Concrete Slab Supported by Circular Columns

1
Objective
Perform the two-way (punching) shear calculations around the exterior and interior circular columns supporting a
two-way flat plate concrete slab. These calculations are widely published in text books for square and rectangular
shapes but rarely are discussed in detail for circular columns or column capitals. This design example provides
step-by-step hand-calculations and compares various CSA methodologies to determine the critical shear perimeter
of circular columns.

Codes
Design of Concrete Structures (CSA A23.3-14) and Explanatory Notes on CSA Group standard A23.3-14
“Design of Concrete Structures”

Design of Concrete Structures (CSA A23.3-19) and Explanatory Notes on CSA Group standard A23.3-19
“Design of Concrete Structures”

References
[1] MacGregor J.G., Bartlett F.M., Reinforced Concrete – Mechanics and Design, First Canadian Edition,
Prentice Hall Canada Inc., 2000

[2] spSlab Engineering Software Program Manual v5.50, StructurePoint LLC., 2018.

[3] “Two-way (Punching) Shear Calculations for Concrete Slab Supported by Circular Columns – ACI 318”
Design Example, STRUCTUREPOINT, 2019

2
Analysis and Design Data

fc’ = 35 MPa and fy = 400 MPa

l1 = 6.0 m and l2 = 5.5 m

Uniformly distributed factored load, wu = 47.00 kN/m2 (includes self-weight of slab, live load, and superimposed
dead load)

Supporting circular column diameter, hc = 850 mm

Effective depth for two-way shear, d = 260 mm (average of effective depths in two orthogonal directions per ACI
318)

Strength concrete reduction factor, c, for shear equals to 0.65 per CSA A23.3-14.

3
Contents
Two-way Slab Model ....................................................................................................................................................5
Internal Force (Shear Force & Bending Moment) Diagrams......................................................................................... 6
Two-way (punching) Shear Calculations ......................................................................................................................7
Method 1: Exact Circular Column ........................................................................................................................... 9
Exterior supporting column: ........................................................................................................................... 10
Interior supporting column:............................................................................................................................. 11
Method 2: Equivalent Square Perimeter Column ................................................................................................... 13
Exterior supporting column: ........................................................................................................................... 14
Interior supporting column:............................................................................................................................. 15
Method 3: Equivalent Square Area Column .......................................................................................................... 16
Exterior supporting column: ........................................................................................................................... 17
Interior supporting column:............................................................................................................................. 18
Summary of Results..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Conclusions: ................................................................................................................................................................ 20

4
Two-way Slab Model

The isometric and plan views below are produced by the spSlab Program.

Figure 1 – Isometric view of two-way plate concrete floor slab supported by circular columns

Exterior Column Interior Column Exterior Column

850 mm diameter 850 mm diameter 850 mm diameter

Figure 2 – Plan view of two-way plate concrete floor slab supported by circular columns

5
Internal Force (Shear Force & Bending Moment) Diagrams

The shear force and bending moment diagrams below are produced by the spSlab Program and will be used for
two-way (punching) shear calculations.

Figure 3 – Shear Force Diagram from spSlab

From the shear force diagram, the reactions at the centroid of the critical section for exterior and interior columns
are:
At exterior supporting column, the reaction, R =  421.87 + 709.98 = 1131.85 kN

At interior supporting column, the reaction, R =  778.98 + 778.98 = 1557.96 kN

Figure 4 – Bending Moment Diagram from spSlab

From the bending moment diagram, the factored unbalanced moment used for shear transfer, M unb, for exterior
and interior columns are:
At exterior supporting column, the unbalanced moment, Mf = 628.56 − 358.59 = 269.97 kN-m

At interior supporting column, the unbalanced moment, M f = 835.54 − 835.54 = 0.00 kN-m

6
Two-way (punching) Shear Calculations

Two-way (punching) shear calculations are performed to ensure that the concrete slab design shear strength,
vr = vc, shall be greater than or equal to the factored shear stress, vf.

v = v  vf
r c

The combined two-way (punching) shear stress, vf, is calculated as the summation of direct shear alone and direct
shear transfer resulting from the unbalanced moment:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +  CSA A23.3-14 (Eq. 13.9)
b0  d  J x  J y

The factored shear force, Vf, at the critical section is computed as the reaction at the centroid of the critical section
minus the self-weight and any superimposed surface dead and live load acting within the critical section perimeter.

The factored unbalanced moment used for shear transfer, M f, is computed as the sum of the joint moments to the
left and right. Moment of the vertical reaction with respect to the centroid of the critical section is also taken into
account.

Without shear reinforcement in the slab, the equivalent concrete stress corresponding to nominal two-way shear
strength of slab, vr, equals to the stress corresponding to nominal two-way shear strength provided by concrete, vc.

 
 
0.38  λ  c  f c
'

  
 2 
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c'  CSA A23.3-14 (13.3.4.1)
 βc  
 α d  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c' 
 bo  

 c = the ratio of the long side to the short side of column, concentrated load, or reaction area
 s = a constant dependent on supporting column location (equals to 4 for an interior effective critical area)
 = 1.0 (normal density concrete)
b0 = the perimeter of the critical section for two-way shear. The critical section shall be located so that the
perimeter, b0, is a minimum but need not be closer than d/2 to the perimeter of the supporting column.
CSA A23.3-14 (13.3.3.1)

7
 Figure 5 – Location of critical shear perimeter

The two-way shear calculations based on an exact circular critical shear perimeter of circular interior and exterior
supporting column as shown above along with two approximate critical shear perimeter methods will be discussed.

8
Method 1: Exact Circular Critical Shear Perimeter – CSA A23.3-14

This method uses the exact circular critical shear perimeter located d/2 away from circular column perimeter for
two-way (punching) shear calculations.

Figure 6 – Mechanism of shear prism that represents perimeter shear strength surface

Circular critical section properties for two-way shear stress calculations for circular column are shown below.
Critical section for circular column, b0 is based on circular perimeter.

b0 =   ( hc + d )

Area of circular concrete section resisting shear transfer, Ac, equals to circular perimeter of critical section, b 0,
multiplied by the effective depth, d.

A c = b0  d =  ( hc + d )  d

( hc + d )
c = c' =
2

(h + d )  d 3
2
J
=  d  c  +
c  2  3

9
 Figure 7 – Section Properties for Shear Stress Computation – Circular Interior Column

For the combined two-way (punching) shear stress, vf, calculations, circular critical section properties of exterior
and interior columns are identical due to the existence of 1.7 m cantilever span at exterior columns.

b0 =   ( hc + d ) =   (850 + 260) = 3, 487 mm

Ac = b0  d =   ( hc + d )  d =   (850 + 260 )  260 = 906, 664 mm 2 = 0.907 m 2

( hc + d ) 850 + 260
c = c' = = = 555 mm = 0.555 m
2 2

(h + d )  d 3  (850 + 260 )  2603

2 2
J
=  d  c  + =   260    + = 257, 457,827 mm3 = 0.257 m3
c  2  3  2  3

Sum of the self-weight and superimposed surface dead and live load acting within the critical section perimeter is:

   ( hc + d )2  47.00    ( 850 + 260 )2 

wu  =   = 45.48 kN
 4  10002  4 
   

Exterior supporting column:

The two-way combined shear stress, vf, can be calculated as:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +
b0  d  J x  J  where:
y

10
 1 1
γv = 1 − = 1− = 0.40 CSA A23.3-14 (Eq. 13.8)
2 h 2 850
1+  c 1+ 
3 hc 3 850

The reaction, R = 1131.85 kN from shear diagram and the unbalanced moment, Mf = 269.97 kN-m, from bending
moment diagram.

f =
(1131.85 − 45.48) + 0.4   269.97 1000 1000
3487  260 257, 457,827

 f = 1.20 + 0.42 = 1.62 MPa

The two-way design shear strength without shear reinforcement, vc, can be calculated as:

   
  0.38  1.00  0.65  35 
 0.38  λ    f '

c c
 
 2   2  
 '
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c  = min 1 +   0.19 1.00  0.65  35 
 βc    1  
 α d    4  260  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c'   + 0.19  1.00  0.65  35 
 bo    3, 487  

1.46 
 
vr = vc = min 2.19  = 1.46 MPa
1.88 
 
v f / vc = 1.62 /1.46 = 1.11  1.0 N.G.

Since vc < v f at the critical section, the slab has inadequate two-way shear strength at the exterior column.

Interior supporting column:

The two-way combined shear stress, vf , can be calculated as:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +  where γ v = 0.40
b0  d  J x  J y

The reaction, R = 1557.96 kN from shear diagram and the unbalanced moment, Mf = 0.00 kN-m from bending
moment diagram.

f =
(1557.96 − 45.48) + 0.4  0.00 1000 1000
3487  260 257, 457,827

 f = 1.67 + 0.00 = 1.67 MPa

The two-way design shear strength without shear reinforcement, vc, can be calculated as:

11
    
   
 λ    f '
0.38  1.00  0.65  35
 0.38 
c c

 2   2  
 '
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c  = min 1 +   0.19 1.00  0.65  35 
 βc    1  
 α d    4  260  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c'   + 0.19  1.00  0.65  35 
 bo    3, 487  

1.46 
 
vr = vc = min 2.19  = 1.46 MPa
1.88 
 
v f / vc = 1.67 /1.46 = 1.14  1.0 N.G.

Since vc < v f at the critical section, the slab has inadequate two-way shear strength at the interior column.

12
Method 2: Approximate Square Critical Shear Perimeter based on an Equivalent Square Column Perimeter
that is equal to Circular Supporting Column Perimeter

The perimeter of critical section for circular column, b0 , is based on an equivalent square column with the same

 
centroid and the same length of perimeter. b0 = 4    hc + d  = (  hc + 4  d )
4 
Area of square concrete section resisting shear transfer, A c, equals to square perimeter of critical section, b 0,
multiplied by the effective depth, d.
 
Ac = b0  d = 4    hc + d   d
 4 

 
  hc + d 
c = c' =  4 
2
  
2

4    hc + d   d  + d 3
J  4  
=
c 3

In Method 2, the side dimension for the equivalent square column would be  hc (i.e. 0.785  hc as it appears at
4
Fig. 13-57 of Reference [1])

Figure 8 – Approximate Square Critical Shear Perimeter

From the equations above:
   
b0 = 4    hc + d  = 4    850 + 260  = 3710 mm
4  4 
   
Ac = b0  d = 4    hc + d   d = 4    850 + 260   260 = 964,692 mm2 = 0.965 m2
4  4 

   
  hc + d    850 + 260 
c = c' =  =  = 464 mm
4 4
2 2
  
2
   
2

4    hc + d   d  + d 3 4    850 + 260   260  + ( 260 )
3

J  4    4  
= = = 304,137, 708 mm3 = 0.304 m3
c 3 3

13
Sum of the self-weight and superimposed surface dead and live load acting within the critical section perimeter
is:

 47.00  
2 2
 
wu   hc + d  =    850 + 260  = 40.44 kN
4  1000  4 
2

Exterior supporting column:

The two-way combined shear stress, vf, can be calculated as:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +  where γ v = 0.40
b0  d  J x  J y

The reaction, R = 1131.85 kN from shear diagram and the unbalanced moment, Mf = 269.97 kN-m from bending
moment diagram.

f =
(1131.85 − 40.44) + 0.4   269.97 1000 1000
3710  260 304,137, 708

 f = 1.13 + 0.36 = 1.49 MPa

For this exterior column, the liberalization attributed to this method leads to 5.83% lower direct shear stress [1.13
MPa (Method 2) vs. 1.20 MPa (Method 1)], 14.3% lower shear stress due to unbalanced moment [0.36 MPa
(Method 2) vs. 0.42 Mpa (Method 1)]. Therefore, the two-way combined shear stress, vf, value of 1.49 MPa from
Method 2 is 8.0% lesser in magnitude and still acceptable (the liberalization) as compared to the value of 1.62 MPa
from the exact circular critical shear perimeter method (Method 1).

The two-way design shear strength without shear reinforcement, vc, can be calculated as:
   
   
 λ    f '
0.38  1.00  0.65  35
 0.38 
c c

 2   2  
 '
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c  = min 1 +   0.19 1.00  0.65  35 
 βc    1  
 α d    4  260  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c'   + 0.19  1.00  0.65  35 
 bo    3, 487  

1.46 
 
vr = vc = min 2.19  = 1.46 MPa
1.88 
 
v f / vc = 1.49 /1.46 = 1.02  1.0 N.G.

Since vc < v f at the critical section, the slab has inadequate two-way shear strength at the exterior column.

14
Interior supporting column:
The two-way combined shear stress, vf, can be calculated as:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +  where γ v = 0.40
b0  d  J x  J y

The reaction, R = 1557.96 kN from shear diagram and the unbalanced moment, Mf = 0.00 kN-m from bending
moment diagram.

f =
(1557.96 − 40.44 ) + 0.4  0.00 1000 1000
3710  260 304,137, 708

 f = 1.57 + 0.00 = 1.57 MPa

For this interior column with zero unbalanced moment, the liberalization attributed to this method leads to 5.9%
lower direct shear stress [1.57 MPa (Method 2) vs. 1.67 MPa (Method 1)]. Therefore, the two-way combined shear
stress, vu, value of 1.57 MPa from Method 2 is 5.9% lesser in magnitude and still acceptable (the liberalization) as
compared to the value of 1.67 MPa from the exact circular perimeter method (Method 1).

The two-way design shear strength without shear reinforcement, vc, can be calculated as:

   
  0.38  1.00  0.65  35 
 0.38  λ    f '

c c
 
 2   2  
 '
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c  = min 1 +   0.19 1.00  0.65  35 
 βc    1  
 α d    4  260  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c'   + 0.19  1.00  0.65  35 
 bo    3, 487  

1.46 
 
vr = vc = min 2.19  = 1.46 MPa
1.88 
 
v f / vc = 1.57 /1.46 = 1.08  1.0 N.G.

Since vc < v f at the critical section, the slab has inadequate two-way shear strength at the interior column.

15
Method 3: Approximate Square Critical Shear Perimeter based on an Equivalent Square Column Area that
is equal to Circular Supporting Column Area - CSA A23.3-19

The perimeter of critical section for circular column, b0, is based on a square column with the same centroid and
the same area.
  
b0 = 4    hc + d 
 4 
Area of square concrete section resisting shear transfer, Ac, equals to square perimeter of critical section, b 0,
multiplied by the effective depth, d.
  
A c = b0  d = 4    hc + d   d
 4 

  
  hc + d 
4
c = c' =  
2

  
2


4    hc + d   d  + d 3
 4  
J
=  
c 3

Figure 9 – Critical Shear Perimeter for Moments and Shear Transfer at Circular Columns


In Method 3, the side dimension for the equivalent square column would be  hc (i.e. 0.886hc )
4
From the equations above:
     
b0 = 4    hc + d  = 4    850 + 260  = 4053 mm
 4   4 

     
A c = b0  d = 4    hc + d   d = 4    850 + 260   260 = 1, 053,825 mm 2 = 1.054 m 2
 4   4 

16
      
  hc + d    850 + 260 
4 = 4
c = c' =   = 507 mm
2 2

  
2
   
2

4    hc + d   d  + d 3 4    850 + 260   260  + ( 260 )
3

 4    4  
J
=   =   = 361,802,991 mm3 = 0.362 m3
c 3 3

Sum of the self-weight and superimposed surface dead and live load acting within the critical section perimeter
is:
2 2
   47.00   
wu    hc + d  = 2 
  850 + 260  = 48.26 kN
 4  1000  4 

Exterior supporting column:

The two-way combined shear stress, vf, can be calculated as:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +  where γ v = 0.40
b0  d  J x  J y

The reaction, R = 1131.85 kN from shear diagram and the unbalanced moment, Mf = 269.97 kN-m from bending
moment diagram.

f =
(1131.85 − 48.26) + 0.4   269.97 1000 1000
4053  260 361,802,991

 f = 1.03 + 0.30 = 1.33 MPa

For this exterior column, this method per CSA A23.3-14 leads to 14.2% lower direct shear stress [1.03 MPa
(Method 3) vs. 1.20 MPa (Method 1)], 28.6% lower shear stress due to unbalanced moment [0.30 MPa (Method
3) vs. 0.42 MPa (Method 1)]. Therefore, the two-way combined shear stress, vu, value of 1.33 MPa from Method
3 is 17.9% lesser in magnitude as compared to the value of 1.62 MPa from the exact circular critical shear perimeter
method (Method 1).

The two-way design shear strength without shear reinforcement, vc, can be calculated as:
   
  0.38  1.00  0.65  35 
 0.38  λ    f '

c c
 
 2   2  
 '
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c  = min 1 +   0.19 1.00  0.65  35 
 βc    1  
 α d    4  260  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c'   + 0.19  1.00  0.65  35 
 bo    3, 487  

17
 1.46 
 
vr = vc = min 2.19  = 1.46 MPa
1.88 
 
v f / vc = 1.33 /1.46 = 0.91  1.0 O.K.

Since vc > vf at the critical section, the slab has adequate two-way (punching) shear strength at the exterior column.
It is important to point out the slab at exterior column that was deemed inadequate for two-way shear strength per
Methods 1 and 2, appears not only to be adequate but to have extra 9.0% reserve capacity per the Method 3.

Interior supporting column:

The two-way combined shear stress, vf , can be calculated as:

Vf  γ  Mf  e   γ v  Mf  e 
f = + v  +  where γ v = 0.40
b0  d  J x  J y

The reaction, R = 1557.96 kN from shear diagram and the unbalanced moment, Mf = 0.00 kN-m from bending
moment diagram.

f =
(1557.96 − 48.26 ) + 0.4  0.00 1000 1000
4053  260 361,802,991

 f = 1.43 + 0.00 = 1.43 MPa

For this interior column with zero unbalanced moment, this method per CSA A23.3-19 leads to 14.4% lower direct
shear stress [1.43 MPa (Method 3) vs. 1.67 MPa (Method 1)]. Therefore, the two-way combined shear stress, v u

,value of 1.43 MPa from Method 3 is 14.4% lesser in magnitude as compared to the value of 1.67 MPa from the
exact circular critical shear perimeter method (Method 1).

The two-way design shear strength without shear reinforcement, vc, can be calculated as:

   
   
 λ    f '
0.38  1.00  0.65  35
 0.38 
c c

 2   2  
 '
vr = vc = min 1 +   0.19  λ  c  f c  = min 1 +   0.19 1.00  0.65  35 
 βc    1  
 α d    4  260  
 s + 0.19   λ  c  f c'   + 0.19  1.00  0.65  35 
 bo    3, 487  

1.46 
 
vr = vc = min 2.19  = 1.46 MPa
1.88 
 

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v f / vc = 1.43 /1.46 = 0.98  1.0 O.K.

Since vc > vf at the critical section, the slab has adequate two-way (punching) shear strength at the interior column.
It is important to point out the slab at interior column that was deemed inadequate for two-way shear strength per
Methods 1 and 2, appears not only to be adequate but to have extra 2.0% reserve capacity per the Method 3.

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Summary of Results

The results related to two-way (punching) shear calculations per three methods are summarized in table below:

Method Used Method 1 Method 2 Diff. Method 3 Diff.

Exact
Critical Shear Perimeter Approximate Square Approximate Square
Circular
Column Geometry Square Column with Square Column with
utilized for Critical Circular Same Perimeter as the Same Area as the
Shear Perimeter Supporting Circular Supporting Circular Supporting
Calculation Column Column Column
Side Length of Square  
Column where hc is the hc hc
N/A 4 4
diameter of circular
( 0.785hc ) ( 0.886hc )
column
The perimeter of the
3,487 3,710 +6.4% 4,053 +16.2%
critical section, b0 (mm)
Area of circular
concrete section
resisting shear transfer, 906,664 964,692 +6.4% 1,053,825 +16.2%
Ac (mm2)
J/c (mm3) 257,457,827 304,137,708 +18.1% 361,802,991 +40.5%
Exterior Column
The two-way combined
1.62 1.49 -8.0% 1.33 -17.9%
shear stress, vf (MPa)
The two-way design
shear strength without
1.46 1.46 0% 1.46 0%
shear reinforcement, vc
(MPa)
Capacity Ratio
1.11 1.02 0.91
v f / v c (≤1.00 is Safe)
Status Inadequate Inadequate Adequate
Interior Column
The two-way combined
1.67 1.57 -5.9% 1.43 -14.4%
shear stress, vf (MPa)
The two-way design
shear strength without
1.46 1.46 0% 1.46 0%
shear reinforcement, vc
(MPa)
Capacity Ratio
v f / v c (≤1.00 is Safe) 1.14 1.08 0.98

Status Inadequate Inadequate Adequate

Conclusions:

The calculations shown in this article using the CSA standard provisions is based on a more detailed article based on
ACI standard provisions and references. The reader is advised to read and review the references given in the ACI
version of this example for a complete and detailed background. The ACI article is found here:
Two-way (Punching) Shear Calculations for Concrete Slab Supported by Circular Columns – ACI 318

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