Glossary
Shear Wall
Plain-Language Definition
A structural wall designed to resist lateral forces (earthquake and wind loads) by transferring them from upper floors down to the foundation through in-plane shear action.
Technical Context
Shear walls are reinforced concrete walls typically 200-400mm thick, placed strategically (around stair cores, lift shafts, building perimeter) to resist lateral loads. They work in combination with frames (moment-resisting frames + shear walls = dual system). Shear wall placement and continuity are critical — a shear wall that stops partway up the building creates a structural weakness.
Why It Matters
Shear walls are the primary earthquake and wind resistance system in most mid-rise and high-rise buildings in Bangladesh. Removing or modifying shear walls (cutting openings for doors, reducing thickness) during renovation drastically reduces a building's earthquake resistance. Any proposed modification near a shear wall requires structural engineer approval.
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