things, large axial forces on supporting columns during an earthquake.

Thus, transverse reinforcement as dened

in 21.3.5.2 for columns in intermediate moment frames is required over the entire length of the column if the
portion of the factored axial compressive force due to earthquake effects exceeds Ag/10. The limit of Ag/10 is
increased to Ag/4 where design forces have been magnied by the overstrength factor <o required by ASCE/SEI
7-05. The transverse reinforcement over the height of the column and over the lengths above and below the column
dened in 21.6.4.6(b) is to improve column toughness when subjected to anticipated earthquake loads.
Two-way slabs without beams are acceptable seismic-force-resisting systems in structures assigned to SDC B
or C. They are not permitted to be part of the seismic-force-resisting system in structures assigned to SDC D or
above. Table 29-2, Fig. 29-1, and
d Fig. 29-2 summarize the detailing requirements for two-way slabs of intermediate
moment frames. Provisions for two-way slabs of ordinary moment frames are also presented in Table 29-2.
The provisions of 21.3.6.2 for the band width within which exural moment transfer reinforcement must be
placed at edge and corner slab-column connections were introduced in the 2002 code. For these connections,
exural moment-transfer reinforcement perpendicular to the edge is not considered fully effective unless it is
placed within the specied narrow band width (see Fig. R21.3.6.1).
The shear strength requirements of 21.3.6.8 were modied in the 2008 code. Slab-column frames are susceptible
to punching shear failures during earthquakes if the shear stresses due to gravity loads are high. Thus, a limit
was inroduced on the allowable shear stress caused by gravity loads, which in turn permits the slab-column
connection to have adequate toughness to withstand the anticipated inelastic moment transfer. The requirements
of 21.3.6.8 are permitted to be waived if the slab design satises the requirements of 21.13.6, which are applicable
to slab-column connections of two-way slabs without beams in members not designated as part of the seismicforce-resisting system.

21.4

INTERMEDIATE PRECAST STRUCTURAL WALLS

This section applies to intermediate precast structural walls used to resist forces induced by the design earthquake.
Connections between precast wall panels or between wall panels and the foundation are required to resist forces
due to earthquake motions and must provide for yielding that is restricted to steel elements or reinforcement
(21.4.2). When Type 2 mechanical splices are used for connecting the primary reinforcement, the strength of the
splice should be greater than or equal to 1.5 times fy of the reinforcement (21.4.3).

21.5

FLEXURAL MEMBERS OF SPECIAL MOMENT FRAMES

The left-hand column of Table 29-3 contains the requirements for exural members of special moment frames (as
noted above, special moment frames, which can be cast-in-place or precast, are required in structures assigned
to SDC D or above). These requirements typically apply to beams of frames and other exural members with
negligible axial loads (21.5.1.1). Special precast moment frames must also satisfy the provisions of 21.8, which
are discussed below. For comparison purposes, Table 29-3 also contains the corresponding requirements for
exural members of intermediate and ordinary cast-in-place moment frames. See Chapter 16 and Part 23 for
additional information on precast systems.

21.5.1

Scope

Flexural members of special moment frames must meet the general requirements of 21.5.1.1 through 21.5.1.4.
These limitations have been guided by experimental evidence and observations of reinforced concrete frames that
have performed well in past earthquakes. Members must have sufcient ductility and provide efcient moment
transfer to the supporting columns. Note that columns subjected to bending and having a factored axial load
Pu f Ag/10 may be designed as exural members, where Ag is the gross area of the section.
29-13

Table 29-2 Two-Way Slabs Without Beams*

Intermediate All reinforcement provided to resist Mslab, the portion of slab moment balanced by the support moment, must be placed within the column strip dened in 13.2.1.
21.3.6.1
Ordinary The middle strip is allowed to carry a portion of the unbalanced moment.
Intermediate The fraction, dened by Eq. (13-1), of the moment Mslab shall be resisted by reinforcement placed
within the band width specied in 13.5.3.2. Band width for edge and corner connections shall not extend beyond the
column face a distance greater than ct measured perpendicular to the slab span.
21.3.6.2
Ordinary Similar requirement, except band width restriction for edge and corner connections does not apply.
Intermediate Not less than one-half of the reinforcement in the column strip at the support shall be placed within the
effective slab width specied in 13.5.3.2.
21.3.6.3
Ordinary No similar requirement.
Intermediate Not less than one-fourth of the top reinforcement at the support in the column strip shall be continuous
throughout the span.
21.3.6.4
Ordinary No similar requirement.
Intermediate Continuous bottom reinforcement in the column strip shall not be less than one-third of the top reinforcement at the support in the column strip.
21.3.6.5
Intermediate Not less than one-half of all middle strip bottom reinforcement and all column strip bottom reinforcement at midspan shall be continuous and shall develop its yield strength at the face of the support as dened in
13.6.2.5.
21.3.6.6
Ordinary All bottom bars within the column strip shall be continuous or spliced with Class A tension splices or with
mechanical or welded splices satisfying 12.14.3.
13.3.8.5
Intermediate At discontinuous edges of the slab, all top and bottom reinforcement at the support shall be developed
at the face of support as dened in 13.6.2.5.
21.3.6.7
Ordinary Positive moment reinforcement perpendicular to a discontinuous edge shall extend to the edge of the slab
and have embedment of at least 6 in. in spandrel beams, columns, or walls. Negative moment reinforcement perpendicular to a discontinuous edge must be anchored and developed at the face of the support according to provisions in
Chapter 12.
13.3.3, 13.3.4
Intermediate At the critical sections for columns dened in 11.11.1.2, two-way shear caused by factored gravity
loads shall not exceed 0.4KVc where Vc is calculated by 11.11.2.1 for nonprestressed slabs and 11.11.2.2 for prestressed slabs. This requirement may be waived if the slab design satises 21.13.6.
21.3.6.8
Ordinary No similar requirement.

* Not permitted as part of the seismic-force-resisting system in structures assigned to SDC D or above.

29-14