《Reinforced Concrete Design》 School of Civil Engineering, SWJTU

Structural Design 1
Shear Resistance of a RC Beam

April, 2021

5.1.1 Introduction 2

➢ Shear is an important but controversial topic in structural

concrete. In design, it is generally desirable to ensure that
ultimate strengths are governed by flexure rather than by shear.

➢ Shear failures, which in reality are failures under combined shear

forces and bending moments, are characterized by small
deflections and lack of ductility. There is sometimes little
warning before failure occurs, and this makes shear failures
particularly objectionable.

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5.1.1 Introduction 3

CL 6.2, EN
➢ P(2) In general, a minimum amount of shear reinforcement shall
be provided, even where calculation shows that shear
reinforcement is unnecessary.
➢ This minimum may be omitted in elements such as slabs, (solid,
ribbed, hollow), having adequate provision for the transverse
distribution of loads, where these are not subjected to significant
tensile forces.
➢ Minimum shear reinforcement may also be omitted in members
of minor importance which do not contribute significantly to the
overall strength and stability of the structure.

5.1.1 Introduction
• Shear failure of beams without shear reinforcement

Fig. (a) Half of a reinforced

concrete beam acted on by a
shear force V .

Fig.(b) An element in the

beam would be subjected
to shear stresses v, and to
horizontal normal stresses
due to bending.

It the element is near the neutral axis or within a

flexurally cracked region, the bending stresses are
comparatively small and may be neglected without serious
loss in accuracy.
Fig. 1 Traditional concepts of shear

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5.1.1 Introduction
• Shear failure of beams without shear reinforcement
v in (b) are equivalent to
the principal stresses in (c).
Principal tensile stresses
“diagonal-tension stresses”

(c) web-shear crack - when

the diagonal tension
stresses reach the tensile
strength of the concrete, a
diagonal crack will
develop. Occurs mainly in
PC beams, rarely in RC
beams.

Fig. 1 Traditional concepts of shear and diagonal tension

5.1.1 Introduction
• Shear failure of beams without shear reinforcement

Nominal shear stress -Design shear stress defines as:

Where: V is the shear force acting on the beam section;

d the effective depth and bv the beam width;
Rectangular beam: bv - width b;
F1anged beam: bw - the web width.

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5.1.1 Introduction
The second picture (close up) illustrates
the horizontal compression cracks at the
top of the beam and the tension cracks at
the bottom of the beam more clearly.

TOP: horizontal compression cracks

caused spalling of the concrete
BOTTOM: tension cracks

Figure 1 Principal Stresses in a Beam

➢ The direction of the principal compressive stresses

takes the form of an arch;
➢ the tensile stresses have the curve of a catenary or
suspended chain.
➢ Towards mid-span, where the shear is low and the
bending stresses are dominant, the direction of the
stresses tends to be parallel to the beam axis.

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➢ The shearing forces are greatest at the supports and the

angles of inclination of the principal stresses are at their
greatest; tensile stresses are therefore liable to cause
diagonal cracking. If this diagonal tension exceeds the
tensile strength of the concrete, shear reinforcement
must be provided.

5.1.2 Types of Shear Failure 10

➢ The appearance of a beam failing in shear is shown in Fig.2, and

may be described as cracked concrete interacting with, and held
together by the reinforcement.
➢ Prior to failure, vertical cracks are produced by the bending
moment but later these are linked to diagonal cracks produced by
the shear forces.
➢ The first four types of failure are related to the shear span ratio
(a/d). As the shear span ratio increases shear resistance decreases,
but for values of a/d>3 the decrease is relatively small. The
longitudinal steel does not generally reach yield.

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5.1.2 Types of Shear Failure 11

Type I (a/d>6)
The bending moment is large
in comparison to the shear
force and the mode of failure
is similar to that in pure
bending, i.e. rotation about (a) Type I a/d>6
the compression zone.

➢ The initial vertical bending cracks become inclined due to the

action of the shear stresses and failure occurs in the compression
zone (Fig. (a)).
➢ The stresses in the tensile steel are close to yield and only
minimum shear reinforcement is required in design situations.

5.1.2 Types of Shear Failure 12

Type II (6>a/d>2)
The initial bending cracks
become inclined early in the
loading sequence and failure is
associated more with vertical
shear deformation and less with
vertical shear deformation and
less with rotation about the
compression zone. (b) Type II 6>a/d>2

➢ At collapse, horizontal cracks form running along the line of the

tensile reinforcement (Fig.(b)) which reduce the shear resistance of the
section by destroying the dowel force, which reduces the bond stresses
between the steel and concrete.
➢ Finally the compression zone fails when subject to shear and
compression.

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5.1.2 Types of Shear Failure

Type III (a/d<2)

Bending cracks are small and
do not develop but shear
cracks, connecting a load
point and the support,
suddenly appear and run
through to the compression
zone producing collapse
(Fig.(c)).

(c) Type III a/d < 2

5.1.2 Types of Shear Failure

Type IV (av/d=0)
➢ Punching shear failure occurs when the plane
of failure is forced to run parallel to the shear
forces as shown in Fig.(d).
➢ This can occur when the opposing shear forces
are close together or, if vertical shear links
have been added, when a failure plane forms
which does not intercept the shear links.
➢ When this type of failure occurs the shear
resistance of the section is at a maximum. The (d) Type IV a/d=0
addition of shear reinforcement in the form of Punching shear
horizontal or inclined links increases the shear
resistance.

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5.1.2 Types of Shear Failure

Type V
➢ The addition of shear
reinforcement increases
the shear resistance
provided that the shear
reinforcement intercepts
the shear cracks. (e) Type V Shear reinforcement

➢ Numerous diagonal cracks develop as shown in Fig.(e) and at

failure the shear reinforcement reaches yield, provided that
the shear reinforcement is anchored and not excessive.

5.1.3 Components of Shear Resistance

The shear in a reinforced concrete beam without shear
reinforcement is carried by a combination of three main
components. These are:

(i) Uncracked concrete in the compression zone Vcz (20-40%)

(ii) Dowelling action of tensile reinforcement Vd (15-25%)
(iii) Aggregate interlock across flexural cracks Va (35-50%)

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5.1.3 Components of Shear Resistance

According to Taylor, as the applied shear force is increased:
➢ the dowel action is the first to reach its capacity, after which a
proportionally large shear is transferred to aggregate interlock.
➢ The aggregate interlock mechanism is probably the next to fail.
➢ Necessitating a rapid transfer of a large shear force to the
concrete compression zone, which, as a result of this sudden
shear transfer, often fails abruptly and explosively.

The above description suggests that the shear failure of a

reinforced concrete beam is affected by a number of shear
parameters besides the av/d ratio discussed earlier. The effects of
the main parameters may be summarized as follows:

5.1.3 Components of Shear Resistance

(a) concrete strength.

The dowel-action
capacity, the aggregate-
interlock capacity and
the compression-zone
capacity generally all
increase with the
concrete strength.

Fig. 3 Effect of fcu and ρ on nominal ultimate shear stress v

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5.1.3 Components of Shear Resistance

(b) tension steel ratio.
The tension steel ratio
( ρ = As/bd) affects
shear strength mainly
because a low (value
reduces the dowel shear
capacity and also leads
to wider crack widths,
which in turn reduces
the aggregate-interlock
capacity.
Fig.3 Effect of fcu and ρ on nominal ultimate shear stress v

5.1.3 Components of Shear Resistance

(c) strength of longitudinal reinforcement.
Provided the steel ratio is kept constant, the characteristic
strength of the longitudinal reinforcement has little effect on
shear strength .

(d) aggregate type. The type of aggregate affects shear strength

mainly through its effect on the aggregate-interlock capacity.
For example, BS 8110: Part 2: Clause 5.4 states that the shear
stress values in Table 6.4-1 should be multiplied by 0.8 when
applied to lightweight concrete.

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5.1.3 Components of Shear Resistance

(e) beam size. The ultimate shear stress reduces with the beam
size, particularly the beam depth; that is, larger beams are
proportionately weaker than smaller beams. This is probably
because in practice the aggregate-interlock capacity does not
increase in the same proportion as the beam size.

(f) the effective shear-span/depth ratio (M/Vd). The ultimate

shear stress at a beam section increases rapidly as the M/Vd ratio
is reduced below about 2.5, where M is the bending moment, V
the shear force, and d the effective depth; this is true for both
distributed loading or concentrated loading.

5.1.4 Effects of shear reinforcement

Shear reinforcement / web reinforcement
(1) Increase the shear strength of the beam;
(2) More important, increases the ductility of the beam (reduces the
likelihood of a sudden and catastrophic failure).

Stirrups or links Combination system of

most common type of web reinforcement links and bent-up bars

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5.1.4 Effects of shear reinforcement

➢ Before diagonal cracking, the external shear force V produces
practically no stress in the web reinforcement.
➢ When the diagonal crack forms, any web bar which intercepts the
diagonal crack would suddenly carry a portion of the shear force
V; web bars not intercepting the diagonal crack remain essentially
unstressed.

Fig. 5 Shear transfer in beam with web reinforcement

5.2.1 Members not Requiring Shear Reinforcement

There are effectively three stages in the design for shear:

➢ The first stage is to determine the capacity of the concrete alone.
➢ Should this capacity not be sufficient to resist the design shear
force, the steel required to resist the designed shear is then
determined without any consideration of the concrete’s shear
capacity (stage 2).
➢ Stage 3 determines the specific area and spacing of the shear
reinforcement.

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5.2.1 Members not Requiring Shear Reinforcement

➢ It is inconvenient to use shear reinforcement in slabs because it

is difficult to fix and it impedes the placing of the concrete. It is
actually an inefficient use of steel.
➢ In a slab, shear design is performed by ensuring that the shear
capacity of the concrete exceeds that of the (applied) design
shear force, i.e. stage 1 above.
➢ According to BS EN 1992-1-1, the concrete shear force capacity,
VRd,c is given as:
VRd,c = bwd [(0.18/γc)k(1001fck) 1/3 +0.15cp]

5.2.1 Members not Requiring Shear Reinforcement

VRd,c = bwd [(0.18/γc)k(1001fck) 1/3 +0.15cp]

where,

(0.18/γc)=CRd,c where γc = 1.5 (partial factor for concrete)

k = (1 + (200/d)1/2) ≤ 2.0 (with d expressed in mm);
The factor k indicates that shear resistance decreases with increase
in depth, which is justified by experiments. The reason is thought
to be due to large crack widths in deep beam (ASCE-ACI, 1998) .

bw is the minimum width of the section in the tension area;

1 = As1 / bwd ≤ 0.02

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5.2.1 Members not Requiring Shear Reinforcement

1 = As1 / bwd ≤ 0.02

where As1 = the area of tension reinforcement that extends
beyond the section being considered by at least a full
anchorage length plus one effective depth (lbd+d)
cp – only included if there are axial forces within the
beam.
With a minimum value of: VRd,c = [0.035k 3/2 fck 1/2] bwd

The applied shear stress (vEd = VEd / (0.9bwd).

The concrete shear capacity must exceed the applied shear
stress.

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

At the ultimate limit state, where the design shear force

is greater than the resistance of a singly reinforced beam,
then shear reinforcement is required to resist all of the
applied shear force.
(cl 8.5, EN): The most common type of shear
reinforcement is in the form of vertical stirrups, or links,
spaced at intervals along the length of a member. The
links should be well anchored.

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5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

Figure: Types of vertical links

The shape of the link, shown in Fig. (b) is preferred because

it is closed, but the other shapes shown in Fig. (c) and (d) are
also used where there are practical difficulties in fixing the
reinforcement.

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

Consider the analogous truss shown in figure 3 which has vertical
stirrups acting as transverse ties, longitudinal bottom reinforcement
providing a tension chord and the concrete acting as a top compression
member and as diagonal compression members which are inclined at a
variable angle .-- Variable Strut Inclination Method

Figure 3 Assumed truss model for the variable strut inclination method

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5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

The stirrups are spaced at a distance equal to zcot.

The angle  increases with the magnitude of the
maximum applied shear force and hence the compressive
forces in the diagonal concrete members.

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

For most cases of predominantly uniformly distributed

loading it has been shown experimentally that the angle will
be 22 degrees.
For heavy and concentrated loads,  may be higher
(maximum 45 degrees) in order to resist crushing of the
concrete diagonal members.

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33

X
d d d b

Compression
Tension

d VEd d
C C C

Tension

V Section

Figure Stirrups and the analogous truss

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

The following notation is used in the equations for the shear design
Asw = the cross-sectional area of the two legs of the link
s = the spacing of the links
z = the lever arm between the upper and lower chord members of the
analogous truss
fywd = the design yield strength of the link reinforcement
fyk = the characteristic strength of the link reinforcement
VEd = the shear force due to the actions at the ultimate limit state
VEf = the ultimate shear force at the face of the support
Vwd = the shear force in the link
VRd,s = the shear resistance of the links
VRd,max= the maximum design value of the shear which can be resisted
by the concrete strut

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5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

The analysis of the truss to derive the design equations is

carried out as follows:-
a) The diagonal compressive strut capacity and the angle 

The maximum design shear force VRd, max is limited by the

ultimate crushing strength of the diagonal concrete member
in the analogous truss and its vertical component.

• the effective cross-sectional area of the concrete acting as

the diagonal strut is taken as: bw x zcos ;
• the design concrete stress: fcd = fck / 1.5.

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

The ultimate strength of the strut

= ultimate design stress x cross-sectional area
= (fck/1.5) x (bw x zcos) (1)

And its vertical component

= [(fck/1.5) x (bw x zcos)] x sin (2)

Such that VRd, max= fck bw zcossin / 1.5 (3)

which, converting gives:-

VRd, max= fck bw z / [1.5(cot + tan) ] (4)

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5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

EC2 modifies this equation by incorporating a strength

reduction factor, v1 for concrete cracked in shear:-
VRd, max= fck bw z v1 / [1.5(cot + tan) ] (5)

Where the factor v1 = 0.6(1 – fck/250).

Putting z = 0.9d, equation (5) becomes:-

VRd, max= [0.9d x bw x 0.6(1 – fck/250) fck] /[1.5 (cot + tan)]

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

And to ensure that there is no crushing of the diagonal

compressive strut:

VRd, max  VEd

This is also checked against the maximum value of shear

on the beam (i.e. the shear force, VEf at the face of the
column):

VRd, max  Vef

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5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

（b）The vertical shear reinforcement

All shear will be resisted by the provision of links with
no direct contribution from the shear capacity of the
concrete itself.
At section X-X in the figure that the force in the vertical
link member (Vwd) must equal the shear force (VEd), that
is
Vwd = VEd = f ywd Asw
f yk Asw
= = 0.87 f yk Asw
1.15

5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

As shown in the flow chart above,

➢ if vEd < vRd,max cot = 2.5
then the area and spacing of shear reinforcement
can be calculated (stage 3).
➢ If vEd > vRd,max cot  = 1.0
then the section needs redesigning.
➢ If vEd falls between the two limits cot = 1 to 2.5
then  has to be calculated from:-
 = 0.5sin-1[vEd / (0.18fck(1 – fck / 250))

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5.2.2 Requiring shear reinforcement (cl 6.2.2,EN)

Finally, according to the truss analogy, the longitudinal

reinforcement will be subject to an additional force from
the shear effects. This additional force can be calculated
from:-
F = 0.5VEd (cot - cot)

For vertical shear links, α = 0. This force is then used in

determining curtailment of tension reinforcement and
anchorage bond lengths at the supports.

5.2.3. Minimum, or Nominal, Vertical Links 42

(cl 9.2.2 EN)
• In most building construction work the smallest diameter link is
6mm and the largest diameter is generally 12 mm.
• 12mm diameter links are not often used because of the difficulties
involved in bending and because of the displacement of the
longitudinal bars at the corners of links when large corner radii
are used.
• If too little shear reinforcement is provided it is not effective
(Yoon et al., 1996). It is also required to control cracking and to
provide ductility. This is estimated from the shear ratio (Eq. 9.4,
EN): w =Asw/(sbw sinα) ;
• Minimum values of the shear ratio (Eq. 9.5, EN)
w,min =0.08(fck)0.5/fyk

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5.2.4 Spacing of Links (cl 9.2.2, EN) 43

• In practice longitudinal spacings of links are generally in intervals

to 20 mm.
• If the longitudinal spacing of links is greater than approximately
0,75d then the links will not intercept cracks;
• nor the distance AC in Fig. 7.4 and consequently will not be
effective in resisting the applied shear force.

Fig. 7.4 Truss analogy

5.2.4 Spacing of Links (cl 9.2.2, EN) 44

➢ Recommendations for minimum longitudinal spacing for links

are related to the requirement for the concrete to flow round
the reinforcement during casting.
➢ Hence a space of at least the diameter of the maximum size of
aggregate plus 5 mm, or bar diameter if greater, is required.
➢ For vertical links the maximum longitudinal spacing (Eq. 9.6,
EN): sl,max=0,75d(1+cotα)
➢ For bent-up bars to intercept AC (Fig. 7.4) the maximum
longitudinal spacing (cl 9.2.2(7), EN)
sb,max=(0,9d/1,5)(cotθ + cotα)=0,6d(1+cotα)
➢ Maximum transverse spacing of legs in a series of shear links
(cl 9.2.2(8), EN)
st,max=0,75d ≤ 600mm

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5.2.4 Anchorage of Links (cls 8.5 and 9.2.2, EN)

• Generally, it is not possible to anchor a link by bond alone
because of the limited bond length available, and therefore it is
necessary to provide longitudinal bars in the bottom and top of
a beam which are enclosed by the link and used as an
anchorage. This arrangement produces a cage of reinforcement
which is easier for the steel fixer to construct, as a separate unit
and place in the mould prior to casting a beam.
• The longitudinal bars should be at least equal in diameter to the
link and generally are not less than 12 mm, although some
designers may use larger sizes.

• The shape of link shown in Fig. (b) is the most

effective and common form used in practice.

5.2.4 Crack Control for Links (cl 7.3, EN)

Cracks are normal in reinforced concrete structures that

are stressed, and if they do not impair the functioning of
the structure they are accepted. If calculations are made
acceptable values are 0,25<w<0,4mm. Cracking is
controlled without calculation by limiting the tensile
stress in the steel and by limiting bar spacing
(cl 7.3.3, EN).

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Example – end span 47

As before: Given:-
The beam is 300 mm wide by 660 deep with three
equal 5.0m spans. (From before, d = 600mm.) In the
transverse direction the beams are at 4.5 m centres with
a 180 mm thick slab (≡ the thickness of the flange of a
‘T’ beam, hf).

Characteristic material strengths are fck = 30N/mm2, fyk

= 500N/mm2 for the longitudinal steel and fyk =
500N/mm2 for the shear links (stirrups). The minimum
concrete cover is to be 25mm.

Example – end span 48

For each span, unfavourable Permanent action, Gk =

100kN/m and single Leading Variable action, Qk =
70kN/m:-

Total design permanent action:

G = 100 x 5 x 1.25 = 625kN
Design leading variable action:
Q= 70 x 5 x 1.5 = 525kN

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49
0.55(G+Q) 0.50(G+Q) Shear

0.45(G+Q) 0.63(G+Q) 0.50(G+Q) 0.50(G+Q)

l=5m l=5m l=5m

Continuous beam with x spans with ultimate bending moment and shear-force coefficients

0.45(G+Q)

0.63(G+Q)

Shear Force Diagram for first span

End supports 50

The Shear, V at the support (i.e. at the centre line of the column)
= 0.45 (625 + 525) = 517.5kN (Note: Total load per m span =
230kN/m i.e (625+525)/5 which is equal to the Total Load
divided by the span))

(Stage 1) Therefore the Shear at the face of the support:

VEf = 517.5 – 230 x 0.3/2 = 483kN
(Stage 2) Therefore the Shear at d from the face:
VEd = 483 – 230 x 0.600 = 345kN

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51

the crushing strength of the concrete diagonal strut at the face of

the beam support is:-

VRd,max(22) = 30 x 300 x 0.9 x 600 x [0.6(1 – 30/250)] / 1.5 (cot22 +

tan22) = 594kN

VRd,max(22) > VEd

therefore determine the shear resistance and the spacing of the
shear links.

52

Asw / s = 345000 / 0.9 x 600 x (500/1.15) x cot 22 = 0.59

Assume B10 links (cross-sectional area = 78.5mm2; there are 2

legs for each link which means total link area = 157mm2);
therefore the allowable maximum spacing is:-

157 / 0.59 = 266mm centres – therefore make the link spacing

260 mm which < 0.75d

Check! Therefore, the shear resistance of the links, VRd,s = 0.60 x

0.9 x 600 x (500/1.15) x cot22 = 348kN which is greater than VEd
(345kN). Therefore the beam can support the ultimate load of
230kN/m in shear. (The 0.6 is from 157/260.)

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53

There is one final check for flanged beams and that is the
longitudinal shear that exists at the flange / web interface.
In many cases this is not a problem as the transverse steel
in the slab will be sufficient to resist this shear force.
However, it could be a problem where there are
particularly thin flanges.

55

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