punching shear

punching shear

1. The shear stress calculated by dividing the load on a column by the product of its perimeter and the thickness of the base or cap, or by the product of the perimeter taken at one-half the slab thickness away from the column and the thickness of the base or cap. 2. The failure of a base when a heavily loaded column punches a hole through it. 3. The punching of a hole through a base by a heavily loaded column as a result of failure of the base.