Learn · guide

How to use the RC shear wall calculator

A reinforced concrete wall under axial load, in-plane moment and shear: what each input means, short or slender, and how to read the end strip and the tension end.

All guides Inputs Result Calc sheet Walk-through Mistakes

1. What the calculator does

The RC shear wall calculator designs a reinforced concrete wall for axial load, in-plane bending and shear, and bending across the wall. It checks whether the wall is short or slender, works out the in-plane capacity by strain compatibility, checks the most loaded end strip, the tension end and the in-plane shear, and the reinforcement limits. Seismic detailing (boundary elements) is an option.

The code routes are SANS 10100-1, Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1) and SANS 51992-1-1 (SA Eurocode, 2023 draft annex). The badge names the clauses: SANS 10100-1 cl. 4.8 walls, cl. 4.3.3 strain compatibility, cl. 4.11 reinforcement limits; EN 1992-1-1 9.6, 5.8 and 6.2.

RC shear wall calculator header with the PASS badge — The header: PASS 46 %, governed by in-plane shear.

2. The inputs, group by group

Input	What it means	Typical value
Wall	Design code, length l_w in plane and thickness h.	3000 × 200 mm
Height	Clear storey height, braced or unbraced, and β (l_e = β × storey).	3000 mm, braced, β 0.75
Actions	One factored ULS case, or characteristic G, Q and wind. Axial N (compression +), in-plane moment and shear, and the moment across the wall per metre.	N 1500 kN, M 1200 kNm, V 400 kN
Materials	Concrete f_cu and steel f_y.	30 MPa, 450 MPa
Bars	Vertical bars and spacing, one central layer or two (each face), horizontal bars and spacing.	Y12 @ 200 two faces, Y10 @ 200
Durability	Cover, exposure and fire rating with the faces exposed.	30 mm, moderate, 1 h
Seismic	Seismic detailing and boundary elements: not applied, or applied by one of two criteria.	not applied

RC wall inputs: wall, height, actions, materials, bars, durability and seismic — The inputs. Exposure and fire rating are amber while “not stated”: those two checks show as NOT CHECKED.

3. How to read the result

The elevation shows the wall with its bars, the loads and the force along the wall: compression at one end, tension at the other, with the neutral axis between. Under it is the plan with the bars in the thickness.

Wall elevation and plan with the force along the wall — Elevation and plan: l_e/h = 11.25 (short), N 1500 kN, M 1200 kNm, V 400 kN; force along the wall from 1402 kN/m in compression to −20 kN/m in tension.

The design result first says whether the wall is short or slender (here l_e/h 11.25, short and braced); a slender wall picks up extra moments. Then the steel ratios, the in-plane capacity at this axial load (1200 against 3169 kNm), the end strip (the most loaded part of the wall, checked like a column), and the tension end.

Design result card for the RC wall — Design result: steel 0.565 / 0.393 %, M_in / M_u 1200 / 3169 kNm, end strip 1402 kN/m with 21.0 / 84.8 kNm/m, tension end 20.5 / 442.8 kN/m.

The badge names the governing check; here in-plane shear (the concrete plus the horizontal bars) at 46 %. With exposure and fire rating not stated, the summary shows 2 NOT CHECKED: they are not passes.

Design checks summary for the RC wall — Design checks: SANS 10100-1 · 15 pass · 2 not checked.

4. Calc sheet, drawing and schedule

The result (pass / fail and utilisation) stays free for everyone. Every check with its clause, the calc sheet and the bending schedule are open to signed-in users. Sign in free: 3 designs a month (one calculator, open for 24 hours). Unlimited with a calculator pack.

The bending schedule card reads: “Sign in (free): 3 schedules a month. CSV with a paid plan.” The full reinforcement detail drawing is part of the paid plan.

Reinforcement detail panel marked paid plan — The reinforcement detail drawing, sections and bar editing are part of the paid plan.

5. A 2-minute walk-through

Open the calculator: a 3 m long, 200 mm wall, 3 m storey, braced, with N 1500 kN, M 1200 kNm and V 400 kN.
Set exposure and fire rating so every check runs.
Switch to unbraced and see l_e/h and the slenderness change.
Raise the in-plane moment to 2500 kNm and watch the tension end and the end strip.
Switch actions to G, Q and wind and let the engine build the combinations.

6. Common mistakes

Characteristic loads in the one ULS case. In “One ULS case” the actions are factored; use the G, Q and wind mode for characteristic loads.
Braced when the wall is the bracing. A shear wall that carries the sway of the building is often itself unbraced in its own plane.
Only the whole-wall moment. The end strip and the tension end usually decide the bars, not the overall capacity.
One central layer in a thick wall. Two layers are needed for crack control and for the moment across the wall.

8. Learn more

Try it nowThe calculator opens with the walk-through inputs above. The result is free; sign in for the checks, calc sheet and schedule.
Open the RC wall calculator

A guide to using the calculator, not a design. Check every value against the current code and your own project, and have the design checked and signed by a registered professional engineer.

Early access

Be first to use STATIX 3D and STATIX 2D.

Leave your email and we will tell you when each part is ready for testing. One confirmation now, one message then. A short monthly update only if you tick the box.