Title: Theory on Shear Transfer Strength of Reinforced Concrete

Author(s): Thomas T. C. Hsu, S. T. Mau, and Bin Chen

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 84

Issue: 2

Appears on pages(s): 149-160

Keywords: building codes; failure mechanism; friction; reinforced concrete; reinforcing steels; shear properties; stress-strain relationships; shear strength; structural analysis; Structural Research

DOI: 10.14359/2834

Date: 3/1/1987

Abstract:
A theory on shear transfer in initially uncracked concrete is presented. The theory is based on the truss model and incorporates a softened compression stress-strain relation along the concrete struts. For reinforced concrete specimens experiencing shear transfer across a plane, a critical zone in the vicinity of the shear plane is identified. Within this zone, the stress distribution is assumed to be approximately uniform after the formation of cracks. The governing equations derived from the theory can then be applied to this critical zone to obtain strain responses for the given stress conditions. The ultimate shear transfer strength is identified by tracing the complete shear stress-strain history using an electronic computer. Comparison of theoretical predictions to 32 test results reported in the literature gives good agreement. The theory predicts that steel reinforcement parallel to the shear plane also contributes to the shear transfer strength, while the shear-friction concept in the current design codes recognizes only the contribution of steel reinforcement crossing the shear plane. Since the current design codes are based on test specimens with heavy reinforcement parallel to the shear plane, they could be unconservative for the practical cases where only light reinforcement is provided parallel to the shear plane.