EXPLORATORY SHEAR TESTS EMPHASIZING PERCENTAGE OF LONGITUDINAL STEEL

Abstract

THE SHEAR STRENGTH OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS AS GIVEN BY ACI 318-63 IS KNOWN TO BE UNCONSERVATIVE WHEN THE RATIO OF THE LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT IS SMALL. THE AIM OF THE PRESENT INVESTIGATION WAS TO ASSESS THE EXTENT OF THIS INADEQUACY. TEN RECTANGULAR BEAMS WITHOUT WEB REINFORCEMENT AND HAVING BETWEEN 0.0173 AND 0.0025 WERE TESTED; RESULTS OF 27 OTHER BEAMS WITH LESS THAN 0.012 FROM VARIOUS OTHER INVESTIGATORS WERE ALSO ANALYZED. ALL THE BEAMS CONSIDERED HAD A/D RATIOS GREATER THAN 2.75. THREE RECTANGULAR BEAMS WITH WEB REINFORCEMENT ARE ALSO REPORTED. /AUTHOR/