A proposal to adjust the design approach for the diaphragm action of shear panels according to Schardt and Strehl in line with European regulations

In Germany the stiffness and resistance of diaphragms used for stabilizing members are traditionally calculated according to the Schardt and Strehl approach. Compared with the approach of Bryan and Davies given in the ECCS Recommendations, it does not take into account the flexibility of the connections. This paper shows how to amend Schardt and Strehl’s approach to include this flexibility, leading to more realistic values of diaphragm stiffness. The article also introduces new procedures for the calculation of the resistance, adopted from European standards and recommendations. Finally, both a test and an example taken from the literature are recalculated for comparison.