An experimental study on the shear strength of high-performance reinforced concrete deep beams without stirrups

Abstract EN

High-performance fiber-reinforced concrete is a new class of concrete that has been developed in recent decades.

It exhibits enhanced properties such as high compressive strength and improved tensile strength.

Three types of concrete with different compressive strengths, namely, normal-strength concrete, high-strength concrete, and high-performance concrete, were used in this study.

The experimental program included casting and testing sixteen reinforced concrete deep beams without stirrups to study the shear strength and behavior of these beams under two-point loading.

The variables considered were the compressive strength of concrete (f′c ) (40–120 MPa), shear span-to-depth ratio (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3), and the ratio of the amount of flexural steel bar ratio (1.35%, 2.40%, 3.76%, and 6.108%).

Experimental results showed that increasing concrete compressive strength and flexural steel bar ratio increased ultimate shear capacity.

By contrast, increasing shear span-to-depth ratio and span-to-depth ratio reduced ultimate shear capacity.

Based on the test results of this investigation (16 beams) and those of available literature (233 deep beams), an equation that considered the parameters affecting shear stress (f′c, l/d, a/d, andw) was proposed using SPSS software.

The proposed equation was compared with predictions made by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the works of other researchers, including that of Zsutty and Aziz.

The ACI predictions were conservative and the proposed equation had a lower coefficient of variation.