Composite Action Between Slabs and Lintel Beams

Based on a finite element analysis, a study is made of the composite action of a floor slab and lintel beam coupling a pair of laterally loaded plane shear walls. The relative influences of a range of structural parameters on the composite stiffness and effective slab width are evaluated, and design curves are presented to facilitate their determination in practical situations. It is shown that the influence of the coupling action is significant only when the lintel beam is relatively flexible.