Concrete Structures I

Master in Civil Engineering

2019 / 2020

Concrete Structures I
Class 10/26: Shear in RC beams

Eduardo S. Júlio

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

In a simply supported beam, submitted to two concentrated loads,

assuming elastic behaviour, the following principal stresses (compression
and tension) directions are shown:

Tração
ou

µ
o são
principal compression directions

principal tension directions

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

When cracking due to shear starts

Behaviour after cracking

veio EIE

bending + bending bending +

shear shear

Cracking tends to be normal to the principal tension directions

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

Ritter (1899) and Mörsch (1909) had already identified both the load path and
the equilibrium conditions.
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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
aqui o
caga
vaidiretamente
apoiada
para apoio

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Shear in RC beams

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Shear in RC beams

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
The strut-and-tie model represents the resultants of the stress fields and resembles a
truss where (transversal and longitudinal) reinforcement works as ties and concrete
in compression (in the flange and between inclined cracks) works as struts. Point
loads applied at nodes also represent load resultants in the corresponding influence
zone.

emvezde
trabalharcom
tensos
trabalhamos
comtensões
resultantes
compressed struts (resultant of the resulting compressed zone)

ties (resultant of tension forces in stirrups along zcotθ distance)

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

Each bar of this ‘truss model’ represents the resultant of a stress field in a length z cotθ
cotθ

(1) vertical tensions field (2) inclined compressions field

vertical (or inclined) stirrups inclined struts

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

Each bar of this ‘truss model’ represents the resultant of a stress field in a length z cotθ

(1) vertical tensions field (2) inclined compressions field

vertical (or inclined) stirrups inclined struts

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

Stress (tension and compression) field parallel to the axis

compression

tension

compressed flange, longitudinal reinforcement

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Shear in RC beams

Stress (tension and compression) field parallel to the axis

compression

tension

tension flange, longitudinal reinforcement

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
Using this model it is possible to correlate M and V with stresses in each ‘bar’, i.e.,
transversal and longitudinal reinforcement and compressed (vertical and inclined)
struts.

At this point it is worthwhile to mention that in the last decades several improvements
to the original Ritter/Mörsch (θ = 45º) model have been proposed.

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 ensaios à 100anosatrás resposta16ps Cppt

ensaios
“SHEAR” – “ 1920 / ...... ” Diferença grande no pontinhos
modelo de dimensionamento

À
In the picture on

µ
the right, the
results of several
tests conducted in
different
laboratories are

fe
plotted in terms of
dimensionless
values of the shear
force, Vu/(bzfc),
versus the amount
of stirrups, Aswfy/
(sbfc)

ρw,min

Schlaich, J., Schafer, K., Jennewein, M. (1987): Toward a consistent design for structural concrete. PCI Journ., V32, Nº3, 75-150 13

µ que
 até Ã se paIbeu a razão
fadimensionalizado

Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
This is not a simple problem and, thus, during the years different models have been
proposed.

One of the most relevant questions is the influence of shear between aggregates
along inclined cracks which results in a different (lower) angle of the principal
compressions in the web. This has to do with the superposition of the strut-and-tie
model with the shear-friction model.

E ir siFisTimFIII5ai não monais

Walraven,. J., Reinhardt, H. (1981): Concrete mechanics – theory and experiment on the mechanical behaviour of cracks in plain and reinforced
concrete subjected to shear loading. TU DelY, Heron, V.26, Nº1A, 1981

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Shear in RC beams

temas
ástapuias normais

ângulo
ativo
ap aigue
da
fenda

astensaso ângulodatensão
resultante
Quandocombinamostodas
Vecchio, F., Collins, M. (1986): The modified compression field theory for RC elements subjected to shear. ACI-Journ. V.83, Nº2, 219-231
Reineck, K.-H. (1991): Modelling of members with transverse reinforcement. IABSE Rep. V.62, 481-488 diferentedoângulo
Mara, P. (1999): How to treat shear in structural concrete. ACI-Journ. V.96, Nº3, 408-414
podeser
dafenda
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 “SHEAR” – Design models

VRd = VWd [θ = βr] + Vfd

Schlaich, J., Schafer, K., Jennewein, M. (1987):
Toward a consistent design for structural concrete.
PCI Journ., V32, Nº3, 75-150

Reineck, K.-H. (2002): Shear design in a consistent

design concept for Structural concrete based on S&T
models. fib Bul. 16, 165-186, fib, Lausanne

indimaãodos θvar
campos detaça VWd [θ= βr] Vfd
VRd = VWd [θ ≤ βr] , θ variável e
Ó
termo corretivo ρw,min

chegar a valores próximos

para dos
1
6
 pen
Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
The model proposed in EC 2 allows the designer to choose the θ angle of the
compression struts, provided that it is within the limits 1 and 2.5 for cotanθ,
corresponding to 22º and 45º for θ.

This range of possibilities is based on the static method of the Plasticity Theory,
according to which, if a balanced solution is adopted such that the mechanical
strength is not exceeded in any element, the load-bearing capacity of the member is
higher or equal to the one considered.

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
Based on the stress field model, with a constant angle of inclined compression
struts, or using the simplified truss model, one can analyse all possible failure
modes and compute the corresponding load-bearing capacities.

In the next slide, the following failure modes are illustrated:

(1)  failure of the vertical tension field, i.e., failure of the stirrups (in tension);

(2)  failure of the inclined compression field, i.e., failure by concrete crushing.

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Shear in RC beams
Rotinapalde

umgaroto
rotinade
estribos debeta

In addition to these two, a third failure mode has to be considered:

(3) failure of the bottom longitudinal reinforcement at the support by slipping (due to
insufficient anchorage length) or by yielding (due to insufficient area), as
illustrated in the next slides.

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Shear in RC beams

The picture on the right, shows the zones

where failure can occur, namely:
(i)  tension in transversal reinforcement,
(ii)  compression in concrete (it should
also be highlighted the stresses path
from the top flange to the inclined
struts in the web), and
(iii)  tension in the bottom longitudinal
reinforcement at the end support.

maior a
A viga fazcotano
alta
mais
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 Psd
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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
Failure will occur at the stirrups if the tension resultant of the set of stirrups within
the length z cotanθ will not be enough to withstand the load from the compressed
strut and transfer it from the bottom to the upper flange.

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 CONTAS
Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams loads directly transferred to

the support

This load, to which the set of

stirrups is submitted, is given
by the shear force at a
distance z cotanθ of the
supports, as shown in the next
pictures, for an end support
and for an intermediate
support.

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams loads directly transferred to

the support

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams S espaçamenteentre as armaduras

e µ Asw Asf Áreadearmadura na direçãonatal

1
Sf
espaçamentoentre
estribos
est 0810,20
area of the stirrups branches by unit of length (cm2/m)

vertical force by unit of length (kN/m)

Asw

v
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a considerar 0 30 mas não tem deser
 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
In addition to stirrups, the load carrying capacity of this strut-and-tie system is also
conditioned by concrete in compression in the web.

viga fina

0 C
i
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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams

e
C

VK.En.ms largura da
haracomo
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nada b de
flexão
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 e Marmo

HÍFEN
Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
faço
It is important to remember the influence of multi-axial stress states on the
behaviour of concrete in compression. The concrete strength class is defined based
on results of specimens tested in uniaxial compression. However, when transversal
compression due to confinement exists, an increase in the compressive strength is
observed (and also in the ductility of the confined region).
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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
On the contrary, when tension transversal to compression struts exists, with
cracking as illustrated in the figure below, such as in the case of beam webs, a
decrease of the compressive strength capacity is observed.

contrário
éo é a metade
traço Üarijessá

Quanto
mair a
extensão
extensa
redução da
ME A
tensão
L
de compressão
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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
In a simplified way, these effects are considered in EC 2 through the following
correction of the compressive strength:

Thus, according to EC 2, the shear strength is limited to the following value:

being αcw=1 for members without prestress and

mamãe

ousada para dementasuperar a pré esforço

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 Concrete Structures I

Shear in RC beams
z
Due to a more favourable
stress state at the support
zone, failure by concrete in
compression does not occur in
this ‘fan’ stress field but in the
adjacent parallel stress field,
as illustrated in the picture on
the right.

FAILURE

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Shear in RC beams
Finally, the dimensions of the supports should be checked. With this aim, EC 2
indicates the following stress limits for both end and intermediate supports:

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