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Section design

for shear
Section design for shear
In beams, a change in bending moment involves
shear forces.

=
2

2
=
Section design for shear
Shear force at a section gives rise to diagonal tension
in the concrete and leads to cracking.
Shear failures are very brittle and therefore
should be avoided.
All beams should always be designed to fail in a
ductile manner in flexure rather than in shear.
Section design for shear
Shear in a homogeneous beam
A state of pure shear stress exists at the neutral axis. This
causes principal tensile and compressive stresses of the same
magnitude as the shear stress and inclined at 45o
In an elastic rectangular beam, the distribution of shear stress
is parabolic. The maximum elastic shear stress at the neutral
axis is given by = 1.5 .
Section design for shear
Shear in a homogeneous beam
In a T-beam or an L-beam, most of the shear force is resisted
by the web and therefore for all practical purposes in shear
calculations, flanged beams can be considered as
rectangular beams of dimensions bw h, where bw =
minimum width of the web.
Shear in a R/C beam without
shear reinforcement
Section design for shear
Shear in a R/C beam without shear reinforcement
Shear in a reinforced concrete beam without shear
reinforcement causes cracks on inclined planes near the
support as shown below.
The cracks are caused by the diagonal tensile stress.
Section design for shear
Shear in a R/C beam without shear reinforcement
The shear failure mechanism is complex and depends on the
shear span av to effective depth d ratio (av/d).
Shear span av is defined as the distance between the support
and the major concentrated load acting on the span.
Section design for shear
Shear in a R/C beam without shear reinforcement
The following actions form the three mechanisms resisting
shear in the beam:
1. Shear stresses in the compression zone resisted by uncracked
concrete.
2. Aggregate interlock along the cracks: Although cracks exist in
the web due to tensile stresses caused by shear stresses, the width
of the cracks is not large enough prevent frictional forces between
cracked surfaces. These frictional forces exist along the cracked
surfaces and contribute to resisting shear force.
3. Dowel action in the bars where the concrete between the cracks
transmits shear forces to the bars.
Section design for shear
Shear capacity
An accurate analysis for shear strength is not possible.
The problem has been solved by testing beams of the type
normally used in practice. Shear strength depends on several
factors such as:
(a) The percentage of flexural steel in the member. This affects
the shear capacity by restraining the width of the cracks and thus
enhancing the shear carried by the aggregate interlock along the
cracks. It also naturally increases the shear capacity due to dowel
action and increase the depth of the section in compression.
(b) Compression strength of concrete strength. It affects by
increasing the aggregate interlock capacity and also the shear capacity
of the uncracked portion of the beam.
Section design for shear
Shear capacity
(c) Type of aggregate. This affects the shear resisted by aggregate
interlock. For example, lightweight aggregate concrete has
approximately 20% lower shear capacity compared to normal weight
concrete.
(d) Effective depth. Tests indicate that deeper beams have
proportionally lower shear capacity compared to shallow beams. The
reason for this is not clear but it is thought it might have some thing
to do with lower aggregate interlock capacity.
(e) Restraining the tension steel separating from concrete by
providing vertical links. This improves shear capacity by increasing
dowel action.
Section design for shear
Shear capacity
The shear capacity without any shear reinforcement is given by
code equations (6.2a), (6.2b) and (6.3N).
Section design for shear
Shear capacity
The shear capacity without any shear reinforcement is given by
code equations (6.2a), (6.2b) and (6.3N).
Shear in a R/C beam without
shear reinforcement
Worked example 1:
Shear capacity of rectangular beam
Section design for shear
Example 1:
Calculate the shear capacity of a rectangular beam 250 450
mm, effective depth d = 400 mm reinforced at a section with
320 bars. fck = 25 MPa, cp = 0. It may be assumed that the
bars extend a length lbd + d beyond the section under
consideration.
Section design for shear
Solution:
bw = 250 mm, d = 400 mm, Asl = 3 314 = 943 mm2.
Coefficient CRd,c (may be given from the National Annex)
. .
, = = = 0.12
.

Coefficient k
=1+ =1+ = 1.707 < 2
( )
Section design for shear
Solution:
Coefficient l
= = = 0.94% < 2%

Coefficient k1 (may be given by the National Annex)


= 0.15
Coefficient vmin

= 0.035 = 0.035 1.707 25 = 0.39
Section design for shear
Solution:
Finally:

, = , 100 +

= 0.12 1.707 0.94 25 + 0.15 0 250 400
= 58728 = 58.728
> + = 0.39 + 0.15 0 250 400
= 39033 = 39.033 OK
Shear in a R/C beam with
shear reinforcement
Section design for shear
The picture shows a reinforced concrete beam under
four point loading.
Section design for shear
In areas where bending stresses dominate, vertical
flexural tensile cracks develop.
In areas where shear stresses dominate as at neutral
axis, inclined tension cracks develop due to diagonal
principal tensile stress caused by shear stress.
At sections where both bending and shear are of equal
importance, cracks which start as vertical tension cracks
due to bending become inclined as they move up due to
the action of shear stresses.
Section design for shear
When sufficient inclined cracks form as shown below,
concrete between cracks acts as concrete struts.
Section design for shear
If vertical steel stirrup reinforcements are provided, the
combination of vertical steel stirrups and inclined
concrete struts together form the web of a
composite truss whose tension chord is steel
reinforcement and the compression chord is uncracked
concrete as shown in the figure.
Section design for shear
It is important to appreciate that this is a smeared
truss in the sense that both steel and concrete web
members are not discrete members.
If Asw is the area of one steel stirrup and the spacing is s
along the span, then the vertical force provided by the
stirrups is Asw fyk / s per unit length.
In this model of shear resistance, it is assumed that at
ultimate loads, the steel stirrups yield and
concrete struts do not crush.
Section design for shear
Derivation of EC2 formulae:VRd,s
The picture shows the idealized truss with a cut section
parallel to the concrete compression struts. Let z be the
lever arm. If is the inclination of concrete struts to the
horizontal and s is the spacing of the vertical shear links, the
number of links in the distance (z cot ) is (z cot )/s.
Section design for shear
Derivation of EC2 formulae: VRd,s
If Asw is the total area of shear link and fywd is the design yield
stress of the link steel, the shear force V at the section is given
by:
=
Rearranging the formula, we obtain Eq. 6.8 of EC2:
Section design for shear
Derivation of EC2 formulae: VRd,max
The figure shows the same idealized truss but with a cut
perpendicular to the struts. The length of the cut section is
z/cos. If c is the stress in the concrete struts, the total
compressive force Fc parallel to the struts is
=
The total vertical
tensile force Fs
due to force in the
stirrups is:
=
Section design for shear
Derivation of EC2 formulae: VRd,max
However we already have derived that:
= =
Combining the equations:
=
Taking equilibrium in the y-axis:
+ =
Replacing Fs and then Fc:
=

=
Section design for shear
Derivation of EC2 formulae: VRd,max
Re-arranging this formula:
= =
Therefore, the maximum shear force that can be resisted
without crushing the concrete in the struts is given by:
. =
Code limits the concrete stress c to:
=
Where 1 is an efficiency factor which allows for the effects of
cracking as well for the actual distribution of stress in the struts
= 0.6 1 /250
acw = 1 for non-prestressed structures.
Section design for shear
The derived equations are shown in 6.2.3(3) in EC2, p. 88:
Section design for shear
All formulae are based on the assumed angle .
This angle cannot be arbitrary but it should be bounded,
as stated 6.2.3(2) in EC2, p. 87:

Also, an approximate value for lever arm is z = 0.9


d.
Section design for shear
The value of bw is the width of the web in T-beams.
If the width of the web varies, then the minimum width
between the tension and compression chords should be
used as shown below.
Section design for shear
The shear resistance due to the vertical shear
reinforcement was derived earlier. Rearranging the
formulae, we obtain Eq. 6.8 of EC2:
Section design for shear
The next table shows the values of shear resistance of
concrete and steel for the two extreme values of cot .
Taking fcd= fck/ (c =1.5), fywd = fyk/(s =1.15) and equating
the value of shear resistance of concrete to the shear
resistance of stirrups, the value of Asw/s can be calculated.
Clearly the minimum value of shear steel is needed when
cot = 2.5 ( 21.8 ) and the maximum value of shear
steel is needed when cot = 1.0 ( = 45 ).
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete (note: no shear links in the following analysis)
The picture shows a beam cracked in shear with concrete
struts inclined at an angle to the beam axis.
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete
Taking a series of steps perpendicular to the struts, the total
compressive across a vertical cut is
=
where c = compressive stress in concrete, b = width of the
beam and h = depth of beam.
The vertical component of Fc is equal to the shear force VEd at
the specific section:
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete
Therefore:
=
The horizontal component H is
=
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete
Combining the equations: =
H is kept in equilibrium by tension forces in the top and
bottom chords. The force in the bottom chord is
approximately 0.5H.
The additional tension force due to shear is therefore
. .
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete
In EC2 clause 6.2.3(7), the additional tensile force in the
longitudinal reinforcement due to shear VEd in members with
shear reinforcement is given by equation (6.18) as
= 0.5
where = angle of the cracks and = inclination of shear
reinforcement. For = 90 cot = 0.
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete
For members with shear reinforcement, the total tensile force
Fs for which the longitudinal reinforcement needs to be
designed is given by
Fs = (MED/z + VEd) MED, max/z
Where MED, max= Maximum moment along the beam.
In clause 9.2.1.3(2), EC2 suggests that this additional tensile
force due to shear can be included by simply shifting the
moment curve away from the section of maximum
moment in the direction of decreasing moment by a
distance = 0.5 . The shifted bending
moment diagram is used for design.
In the case of members without shear reinforcement, = .
Section design for shear
Additional tension force due to shear in cracked
concrete
Section design for shear
Minimum shear reinforcement
The code recommends in equations (9.4) and (9.5N) that
minimum shear reinforcement must satisfy the condition (for
vertical shear links):
.

Spacing constraints
In addition, the maximum longitudinal spacing s is limited to 0.75d
according to equation (9.5N).
The transverse spacing (across the width bw) should be limited to
0.75d 600mm according to equation (9.8N).
Section design for shear
The steps in designing the shear reinforcement are as
follows.
Calculate the design shear force, VEd.
Calculate VRD, c.
If VEd < VRD, c, then no shear reinforcement is required but a minimum
value should always be provided.
If VEd > VRD, c, shear reinforcement is required.
Equate VEd = VRD, max and calculate the value of cot. Check that
it is within the limits of 1.0 and 2.5. If it is outside the limits for
minimum shear reinforcement, choose the maximum value
within the limits and calculate the corresponding value of
VRD,max . Ensure that it is larger than VEd.
Section design for shear
The steps in designing the shear reinforcement are as
follows.
Design the necessary shear reinforcement from the equation:
, =
Check that the minimum reinforcement has been provided:
.

Check the longitudinal and lateral spacing.


Shear reinforcement
in a R/C T-beam
Worked example 2:
Calculation of shear reinforcement
Section design for shear
Example 1:
At a cross section in a T-beam with flange width b = 600 mm,
flange thickness hf = 125 mm, effective depth d = 375 mm,
width of web bw = 200 mm, flexural reinforcement is 232 mm
bars, fck = 25 Mpa, fywk = 500 MPa, design ultimate shear force
VEd = 157.5 kN. Use expression 6.6N for the calculation of v1.
Determine the spacing of 8 mm diameter two-leg links.
Section design for shear
Solution:
i. Check if shear reinforcement is required,VEd > VRd,c
VEd = 157.5 kN,
bw = 200 mm,
d = 375 mm,
Asl = 2 804 = 1608 mm2
Coefficient CRd,c (may be given from the National Annex)
. .
, = = = 0.12
.

Coefficient k
=1+ =1+ = 1.73 < 2
( )
Section design for shear
Solution:
i. Check if shear reinforcement is required,VEd > VRd,c
Coefficient l
= = = 2.14% > 2% = 2%

Coefficient k1 (may be given by the National Annex)


= 0.15
Coefficient vmin

= 0.035 = 0.035 1.73 25 = 0.39
Section design for shear
Solution:
i. Check if shear reinforcement is required, VEd > VRd,c
Finally:

, = , 100 +

= 0.12 1.73 2 25 + 0.15 0 200 375
= 57360 = 57.360
> + = 0.39 + 0.15 0 200 375
= 29250 = 29.25
VRd,c= 57.36 kN < VEd = 157.5 kN, therefore shear
reinforcement is required.
Section design for shear
Solution:
ii. Check whether the section strength is adequate, VEd
< VRd,max.
, = =
, ,
2 = = arcsin
= = 0.6 1 /250 = 0.54 (recommended value according
to Expression 6.6N. A value of 0.6 may also be used here).
acw = 1 for non-prestressed structures.
= 0.9 is a good approximation for the lever arm.
Initially, set VEd = VRd,max to find :
.
= arcsin 15.61
. . .
Section design for shear
Solution:
ii. Check whether the section strength is adequate, VEd
< VRd,max.
= = 3.58 this is not an acceptable value, since
according to Eq. 6.7N, 1 2.5. Choose = 2.5 for
minimum shear reinforcement.
For this choice, 21.8 and , =
= 1 200 0.9 375 0.54
= 209.483 > 157.5 =
. . .
The section is adequate.
Section design for shear
Solution:
iii. Design of shear reinforcement.
,= . Set it equal to to calculate the
maximum spacing of 8 shear links with two legs (which
are given), providing 100.5 mm2 of area.
. .
157.5 10 = 100.5 235
.

Now calculate again the maximum spacing based on minimum


reinforcement requirements (Eq. 9.4 and 9.5N of EC2):
.
for vertical shear links, therefore
.
= = 628
. .
Section design for shear
Solution:
iii. Design of shear reinforcement.
Finally, calculate again the maximum spacing based on EC2
restrictions:
= 0.75 = 0.75 375 281
Select = 225 to cover all maximum spacing
requirements.
Bent-up bars as shear
reinforcement
Section design for shear
Bent-up bars as shear reinforcement
A less common method of providing shear reinforcement is
using bentup bars. The reason bent-up bars are less popular is
because of the increased cost of bending and fixing the
reinforcement.
Also the performance of this approach is questionable,
especially in the case of earthquake loads.
Section design for shear
Bent-up bars as shear reinforcement

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