Title: Influence of Width-to-Effective Depth Ratio on Shear Strength of Reinforced Concrete Elements without Web Reinforcement

Author(s): Antonio Conforti, Fausto Minelli, and Giovanni A. Plizzari

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 114

Issue: 4

Appears on pages(s): 995-1006

Keywords: bar spacing-to-effective depth ratio; code predictions; shear cracking; shear failure; shear strength; width-to-effective depth ratio

DOI: 10.14359/51689681

Date: 7/1/2017

Abstract:
It is well-known that the shear strength of reinforced concrete elements without web reinforcement is affected by different factors. Among them, tensile strength of concrete, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, shear span-depth ratio, size effect, axial force, and maximum aggregate size seem to be the most important. Concerning other parameters—for example, the width-toeffective depth ratio (b/d)—there is still disagreement within the research community about its possible influence on shear bearing capacity. In this context, the present research evaluates the influence of both the b/d and bar spacing-to-effective depth ratio (s/d) on the shear strength by means of an experimental program on 17 full-scale specimens characterized by b/d ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 and an s/d from 0.24 to 0.71. Results showed that, for b/d > 1, an increase in the b/d determines a non-negligible increment in the shear strength, whereas the s/d (in the considered range) does not affect the shear bearing capacity.