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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2
2.0 Issue in Interpretation of clause 40.2.3.1 of IS-456:2000 for shear in slabs .................................... 3
3.0 Guidelines from other codes for design of slabs for shear ............................................................... 5
3.1 Indian Railway Standard : Concrete Bridge Code ......................................................................... 5
3.2 BS 5400.......................................................................................................................................... 6
3.3 IRC 112 .......................................................................................................................................... 7
3.4 ACI-318:2011 ................................................................................................................................. 8
3.5 BS 8110.......................................................................................................................................... 9
4.0 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 10
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REPORT ON MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE SHEAR FOR THICK SLABS

1.0 Introduction

IS-456:2000 is code of practice for Plain and Reinforced concrete construction in India. There is no separate code for
Metro Construction in India, hence, for reference, IS-456:2000 code is used for Metro Building designs (Stations,
Ancillary buildings etc.).

This code has been drafted taking guidance of various codes as acknowledged in forward to the code. The references
as acknowledged in code forward are listed below:

The code draws heavily from BS 8110.

BS 8110 replaced the erstwhile CP 110 – 1972 which was withdrawn in 1985. BS 8110 too is now obsolete due to
adoption of Euro Code.
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2.0 Issue in Interpretation of clause 40.2.3.1 of IS-456:2000 for shear in slabs

IS 456 mandates maximum shear stress in slabs to be 50% of those permitted for beams.

Extract from code is as below

It may be of interest to note that the limitation of maximum shear stress to 50% of that allowed for beam is
only in CP 110, which was superseded in 1985 by BS 8110.

BS 5400 also had this limiting criteria of 0.375*fck1/2 in its 1978 version (first version) but it is not there in
subsequent versions.

It is our submission that the clause 40.2.3.1 is meant for conventional building slabs (of maximum thickness about
300 mm or so) where stirrups cannot be properly hooked / anchored in given depth and hence reliance cannot be
placed on strength of stirrups.
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Extract from book, “Concrete Bridge Design to BS 5400” by L.A. Clark ( Published in 1981, hence it is commentary
on 1978 version of code ) is included below which also states the reason for limiting the shear stress to half for that
of beams.

From above reference, it is clear that, restriction of maximum permissible shear stresses in slabs are required where
there is no possibility of providing shear stirrups (due to low thickness of slabs). For deeper slabs, where stirrups can
be easily placed, this restriction is not applicable.
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3.0 Guidelines from other codes for design of slabs for shear

3.1 Indian Railway Standard : Concrete Bridge Code

Hence, this code does not permit usage of shear stirrups for slabs less than 200 mm but for slabs of thickness greater
than 200 mm, there is no difference for design criteria between slabs and beams. The limit for maximum shear
stress is same as those for beams for slabs of thickness greater than 200 mm thick if shear stirrups are
provided.
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3.2 BS 5400

Hence, this code too does not permit usage of shear stirrups for slabs less than 200 mm but for slabs of thickness
greater than 200 mm, there is no difference for design criteria between slabs and beams. The limit for maximum
shear stress is same as those for beams for slabs of thickness greater than 200 mm thick if shear stirrups are
provided.
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3.3 IRC 112

From point 3 above, code compares shear in slabs with maximum allowable shear stress in slab i.e.

This code too allows shear stirrup only for slabs greater than 200 mm thick and doesn’t distinguish between
beams and one way slabs for maximum allowable shear requirements.
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3.4 ACI-318:2011

From this it is clear that, ACI-318 doesn’t distinguish for shear design between Beams and one way action for
slabs.
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3.5 BS 8110

Above code too discourage design of slabs with stirrups for slab less than 200 mm thick . There is no difference
in maximum shear stress limitation for beams and slabs.
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4.0 Conclusion

The slab thicknesses as being adopted for present metro works do not warrant limitation of maximum shear stress to
50% of those for beams as per IS 456 recommendation. The premise for such a criteria was CP 110 which was
withdrawn in 1985. None of the codes in practice put this limitation on slab design for shear.

Even the codes which form the basis for IS 456 do not limit the shear stress to half of those of beams.

All the codes are unanimous in stating that shear stirrups can not be relied for slab of thickness less than 200 mm.
Other than that, there is no difference in criteria and limits on maximum shear stress for slabs and beams.