Shear wall

A shear wall is a long, relatively thin structural wall, usually in reinforced concrete, designed to resist horizontal loads acting in its own plane. It carries vertical load like a column does, but its main job is to stiffen the building against swaying under earthquake and wind. In seismic regions such as Turkey, where these walls are called perde duvar, they are one of the key parts of the structure in multi-storey buildings.

How a shear wall works

Imagine pushing a building sideways. A frame of columns and beams resists by bending, while a shear wall, being far stiffer in its own plane, takes most of the horizontal load and limits how much each floor drifts. Distribution in plan matters: if all the walls are bunched in one corner, the building twists during an earthquake. That is why shear walls are usually placed symmetrically around lift and stair cores and along facade edges. They should run continuously from the foundation to the roof rather than stopping at upper floors. Their size, reinforcement and layout come from the structural calculations; the architect’s task is to make room for them in the plan early on.

Impact on architectural design

A shear wall is hard to pierce or move. Door and window openings in it are limited, and it cannot be knocked through in later alterations, so the architectural plan and the structure need to be developed together. Left as exposed concrete, shear walls can also give interiors and facades a strong material presence.