Structural Behaviour of High-Rise Buildings with Transfer Floors: Seismic Response and Punching Shear Mechanisms – A Review

Although transfer floors are frequently utilized in high-rise buildings to meet practical and architectural needs, they produce noticeable vertical abnormalities that have a substantial impact on both localized failure mechanisms and global seismic response. With a focus on seismic response characteristics and punched shear behaviour at transfer levels, this study summarizes analytical, computational, and experimental research on the structural behaviour of high-rise buildings with transfer floors. In comparison to conventional structural systems, prior studies have consistently reported increased force demand, stress concentration, and nonuniform load transmission at transfer levels. Punching shear mechanisms in wallsupported and column-supported transfer slabs are given special consideration, along with the effects of gravity and seismic loading, modelling techniques, and boundary conditions. A critical discussion is held regarding the shortcomings of simplified design techniques and the benefits of sophisticated finite element modelling in capturing stress concentration and load redistribution. In addition, the review identifies gaps in our understanding of torsional effects, nonlinear seismic response, and integrated performance evaluation of transfer-floor systems, offering future research options.