Shear Field Panel Bracing

A new precast concrete wind bracing in high-rise steel structures, called the Shear Field Panel system is presented. The economy of various types of wind bracing methods in tall buildings is reviewed and it is shown that the use of these panels will result in substantial savings, when used not only as bracing elements but also as permanent partitions, or, more frequently, as exterior spandrel panels. These elements connected to columns and spandrel beams resist wind forces primarily by a shear field: since deflection is controlled by the shear rigidity of the concrete, the reinforcing operates at normal stress levels instead of the lower stresses used in structural steel bracing elements. The use of these panels also eliminates the requirements for moment connections. Methods of design and analysis are presented. Numerical results and typical details are shown, and experimental work is examined.