shear wall

A shear wall structural system uses rigid vertical walls to resist distortion. In smaller buildings a shear wall can be wood or masonry, while in high-rises they are almost always reinforced concrete.

The walls contribute to the building's resistance to distortion, rather than functioning only as room dividers or facade cladding. Their structural role establishes the system.

Reinforced concrete is usual in high-rise applications, while wood and masonry are also included. The material alone does not distinguish a shear wall from a wall without this force-resisting role.