All building codes approach punching shear by replacing the actual complicated punching behavior by relatively simple models that do not reflect the actual behavior of the punching zone. The only reason that these simple models lead to safe designs is that they have been calibrated with test results for the standard interior, edge and corner column cases.

It should always be remembered that for situations other than the standard interior, edge and corner cases, the building code models might produce results that are illogical and possibly unsafe.