What must be reinforced on openings in shear panels that affect their strength?

In the context of openings in shear panels, shear stress is the primary concern when it comes to maintaining the structural integrity and strength of those panels. Shear panels are designed to resist lateral forces such as wind or seismic loads, and any opening in these panels can considerably affect their ability to carry these forces effectively.

When an opening is cut into a shear panel, it can create areas where the shear stress is concentrated. This can potentially lead to failure if not properly reinforced. Therefore, reinforcing the areas around the openings helps to distribute shear forces more evenly and restores the overall capacity of the shear panel to withstand lateral loads.

While tensile and compressive stresses are important in the overall analysis of a building's performance, they are not the primary focus when addressing the specific issue of reinforcing openings in shear panels. The need for reinforcement is centered on the shear stress that arises from lateral loading conditions. This means that effectively managing shear stress ensures the shear panels continue to perform as intended in resisting lateral forces.