University of British Columbia | Okanagan

School of Engineering

CHAPTER 7 – SHEAR IN REINFORCED CONCRETE

7.1 INTRODUCTION

(Fig. Ref. Brzev and Pao 2006)

Brittle failure  undesirable

Shear in reinforced concrete is complex:

• Non-linear material
• Non-homogeneous material
• Cracking
• Presence of reinforcement

A realistic description of the shear distribution is shown as:

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-1

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.2 MECHANICS OF SEAR IN BEAMS

(Fig. Ref. Brzev and Pao 2006)

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-2

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

  

   
    ,
        
   
Principal tension

  

   
    ,
        
   
Principal compression

tan 2 

 /2

Shear cracks develop when principal tensile stresses σ1 exceeds the tensile
strength of the concrete

Cracking is perpendicular to principal tension stress

A convenient way of determining the principal stresses at a point is to use a
Mohr’s circle form stress.

There are no shear stresses acting on the plane of maximum and minimum
principal stress

(Fig. Ref. Brzev and Pao 2006)

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-3

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.3 SHEAR REINFORCEMENT

CSA A23.3 Clause 11.2.4

(Fig. Ref. Brzev and Pao 2006)

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-4

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.4 CSA A23.3 DESIGN FOR SHEAR

The CSA A23.3 provisions for shear design were changed substantially in the
2004 version

Previously (1994), three distinct approaches were permitted:

11.3 Simplified Method

11.4 General Method
11.5 Strut and Tie Models

The Simplified and General Methods have now been “combined” in the 2004
Code to provide a common approach with two variations:

• A modified simplified method (Clause 11.3.6.3)

• Revised general method (Clause 11.3.6.4)

The Strut and Tie Method is included in the 2004 Code in Clause 11.4.

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-5

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.4.1 CSA A23.3 SHEAR REQUIREMENTS (CHAPTER 11)

   (Clause 11.3.1)

 = Factored shear resistance

 = Factored shear load

The factored shear resistance  is supported by concrete  and steel  :

     (Clause 11.3.3)

Additional provisions for:

Minimum Shear Reinforcement (location and amount)

Maximum Spacing of Shear Reinforcement

Maximum Shear Resistance

Critical cross-section for shear design near support

The factored shear resistance

     (Clause 11.3.3)

Maximum allowable  value is

,  0.25"
′ #$ %& (Clause 11.3.3)

Where,

" = 0.65
%& = effective shear depth
= 0.9d or 0.72h, whichever is greater
#$ = web width

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-6

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.4.2 CONCRETE RESISTANCE IN SHEAR, VC

CSA A23.3-04 Clause 11.3.4

Three contributions:

Vcz shear in compression zone

Va aggregate interlock
Vd dowel action
 Combined empirically in Vc

  " 345
′ #$ %& (Clause 11.3.4)

Where,

" = 0.65
3 = facto to account for low-density concrete
= 1 for normal density concrete
4 = factor accounting for shear resistance of cracked concrete, determined in
Clause 11.3.6
%& = effective shear depth
= 0.9d or 0.72h, whichever is greater
#$ = web width

Note that, in the determination of  , 5
′ 6 8 MPa

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-7

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.4.3 STEEL RESISTANCE IN SHEAR, VS

(Fig. Ref. Brzev and Pao 2006)

CSA A23.3-04 Clause 11.3.5

" 7&
8 %& cot θ

  Clause 11.3.5
<

Where,
" = 0.65
3 = facto to account for low-density concrete
= 1 for normal density concrete
7& = area of shear reinforcement within distance “s”
= Ab = no. legs in stirrup
<= stirrup spacing
 = angle of inclination of compression stresses, determined in Clause 11.3.6
> angle of inclined cracks due to shear

For design:

" 7&
8 %& cot θ

 ?@′A     
<

Therefore, the required spacing, <?@′A is

" 7&
8 %& cot θ

<?@′A 
  

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-8

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.4.4 DETERMINATION OF B AND C

CSA A23.3-04 Clause 11.3.6

4 = 0.21
 = 42o

For,

• Slabs with thickness < 350 mm

• Beams with overall thickness < 250 mm
• Concrete joist construction (Clause 10.4)
• Beams cast integrally with slabs where the depth of the beam below the
slab is not greater than one-half of the web width or 350 mm

Clause 11.3.6.3 – Simplified Method

Applicable to cases other than Clause 11.3.6.2 and members not subject to
significant axial tension

Limitations:
′ < 60 MPa

8 < 400 MPa

 = 35o

4 = 0.18 for sections containing at least minimum transverse

reinforcement (Clause 11.2.8.2)

230
4
for sections containing no transverse reinforcement and having
1000  %& maximum Coarse Aggregate size > 20 mm

230
4
for sections containing no transverse reinforcement and all
1000  <E? aggregate sizes

<E? = equivalent crack spacing

35<E
<E?   0.85<E
15  FG

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-9

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

Clause 11.3.6.4 – General Method

Based on Modified Compression Field Theory

Use for:
•
′ > 60 MPa
• Members subject to significant tension
• Situations where designer wants a more rigorous approach  non-
typical members/structures

7.4.5 ADDITIONAL CODE REQUIREMENTS (CSA A23.3-04)

1. Minimum shear reinforcement Clause 11.2.8.1

**Changed in 2004

A minimum area of shear reinforcement is required in the following regions

of flexural members:
(a) Where Vf > Vc
(b) Beams where h > 750 mm
(c) Where torsion, Tf > 0.25 Tcr

2. Minimum area of shear reinforcement Clause 11.2.8.2

Where shear reinforcement is required by Clause 11.2.8.1 or by

calculation, a minimum area of shear reinforcement shall be provided:

0.065
′ #$ <
7&,IJ 

8

3. Maximum spacing of shear reinforcement Clause 11.3.8

0.7%& N
<6K for  6 0.1253"
′ #$ %&
600 MM

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-10

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

0.35%& N
<6K for  O 0.1253"
′ #$ %&
300 MM

4. Maximum shear resistance Clause 11.3.3

,  0.25"
′ #$ %&

Thus,

,  0.25"
′ #$ %&  

If too may stirrups are provided ( is too large), then the concrete web
may crush before the stirrups yields.
If , <  , then the cross-section dimension need to be increased

5. Sections near supports Clause 11.3.2

Critical section for shear design:

• Compute  at a distance  from support where support reaction
introduces compression
• Compute  as support where support reaction introduces tension

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-11

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.4.6 SHEAR DESIGN PROCEDURE

Must satisfy  >  along length of member.

1. Determine if size of cross-section is adequate:

Check  < , If not, increase bw and or d

2. Determine θ and β

3. Compute Vc

4. Design stirrups for critical section, Vf, near support:

(a) If Vf < Vc, then no stirrups are required

(b) If Vf > Vc, then:

• Choose Av
• Compute required spacing, s
• Choose a reasonable value for s  round to nearest multiple of 10 mm
or 25 mm less than or equal to calculated s
• Check Av > Av,min
• Check s < smax

5. Design stirrups for selected other sections along length of beam following Step
4 procedure

6. Determine stirrup layout along beam length.

Draw Vr diagram for beam and compare to Vf envelope

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-12

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

Example 1: The factored shear force envelope for a continuous interior beam is
shown below. Design the shear reinforcement for the beam.

′ = 25 MPa and fy = 400 MPa

h = 820 mm, Max C.A. size = 20 mm

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-13

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

Example 1…

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-14

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

Example 1…
Develop stirrup layout and shear resistance envelope:

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-15

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

SHEAR DESIGN DIGEST

STEP 1: FOR THE GIVEN GEOMETRY, CHECK IF THE MEMBER SIZE IS
ADEQUATE…

STEP 2: CHECK IF MINIMUM REINFORCEMENT IS SATISFIED…

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-16

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam
University of British Columbia | Okanagan
School of Engineering

7.7 REFERENCES
1) Brzev, S. and Pao, J. 2006. Reinforced Concrete Design-A Practical
Approach, Prentice Hall.
2) MacGregor, J.G. and Bartlett, F.M. 2000. Reinforced Concrete –
Mechanics and Design, Prentice Hall, 1st Canadian Edition.
3) Canadian Portland Cement Association 2005. Concrete Design
Handbook. Third edition. (Contains the 2004 edition of the design
standard for reinforced concrete structures, CSA A23.3-04).

ENGR 327 Reinforced Concrete Design I 7-17

Dr. Solomon Tesfamariam