What should I do when punching-shear perimeters overlap?

Answer: ACI 318 does not provide clear requirements as to how to deal with overlapping punching-shear perimeters. However, this uncommon case may be modeled within SAFE as follows:

Model only one column as you would following a hand-calculation approach.
Use statics to replace the loading within both columns with equivalent loads and moments located at the centroid of the composite section.
SAFE will then check the punching-shear perimeter of the total composite section. Here, results will align with general practice.

NOTE: Punching-shear overwrites are available such that the perimeter may be manually input according to requirements.

See Also

Verification examples of punching-shear calculations per various building codes are available within SAFE through Help > Documentation.

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