Shear tests evaluation and numerical modelling of shear behaviour of reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

A series of 24 reinforced concrete beams - amongst them six prestressed - were tested in the laboratory of the Department of Mechanics, Materials and Structures, TUB in 2005. The principal aim of the research program was to develop the variable strut inclination method used for shear design of reinforced concrete beams by Eurocode 2. Based on numerical evaluation of a substitutive vaulted lattice model with compressed-sheared top chord and some experiences of the test results, the author proposes to increase the fraction of the shear force attributed to the concrete in simple supported reinforced concrete beams loaded by a uniformly distributed load. Attention is drawn to the importance of adequate anchorage of the horizontal component of the diagonal concrete compression force at the supports.