Difference between Column & Shear Wall


Both concrete column and shear wall are part of structural system but every vertical element cannot be a concrete column or a shear wall. The nomenclatures depend upon the structural behavior of the member in that particular case.

01

Concrete Column

  • Ratio of breadth/width < 0.4

Shear Wall

  • Ratio of breadth/width > 0.4

02

Concrete Column

  • Concrete columns minimum width should be 200 mm as per Indian Standard. However many codes prefer it be of 300 mm for seismic resistant.

Shear Wall

  • Shear wall minimum width should be 150 mm as per Indian Standard.

03

Concrete Column

  • Concrete columns are less resistant to Earthquake as compared to Shear wall.

Shear Wall

  • Shear wall are hugely resistant to Earthquake as compared to Column.

04

Concrete Column

  • Normally concrete columns are provided at ends of room as per structural plan.

Shear Wall

  • Shear walls run along the full length of walls.

05

Concrete Column

  • Concrete columns cross section can be square, rectangle, circular, I shape, L shape.

Shear Wall

  • Shear wall cross section is like vertically oriented wide beam.

06

Concrete Column

  • Lateral load is resisted by flexural deformation.

Shear Wall

  • Lateral load is resisted by shear deformation.

07

Concrete Column

  • Minimum steel in RCC Column as per different codes:

(a) Indian Standard – 0.80%.
(b) American Standard – 1.0 %
(c) British Standard – 0.4 %

Shear Wall

  • Minimum steel in RCC Shear as per different codes:

(a) Indian Standard – 0.25%.
(b) American Standard – 0.25%
(c) British Standard – 0.4 %

08

Concrete Column

  • Clear surface is not possible as column offset are seen at corners.

Shear Wall

  • Clear surface without any offset is possible.

09

Concrete Column

  • Normally consumption of concrete is less when compared to Shear wall system.

Shear Wall

  • Normally consumption of concrete is more when compared to beam column system.

10

Concrete Column

  • Normally more consumption of bricks/blocks.

Shear Wall

  • Normally less consumption of bricks/blocks.

11

Concrete Column

  • From aesthetic point of view column is not as good as shear wall.

Shear Wall

  • From aesthetic point of view shear wall is better than column.

12

Concrete Column

  • Beam Column System is more efficient and preferred for low rise structure.

Shear Wall

  • Shear wall system is more efficient for high rise structure.

13

Concrete Column

  • Finished corners are not possible.

Shear Wall

  • Finished corners are possible.

14

Concrete Column

  • Provision of openings for door/window in column system is easy.

Shear Wall

  • Provision of openings in shear wall system is tedious and needs special design skills.

15

Concrete Column

  • Less carpet area is available as compared to shear wall.

Shear Wall

  • More carpet area is available as compared to column beam system.

16

Concrete Column

  • Needs skills for the placement of concrete column.

Shear Wall

  • Needs advanced skills for its placement because if not kept at proper location it may lead to adverse effect.
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