The mechanism of shear transfer in reinforced concrete beams with short shear spans is investigated with a view to defining the relative contribution of various component actions such as interface shear transfer across the characteristic inclined crack in such members, shear transferred by the uncracked compression zone, dowel action by the longitudinal tension reinforcement, and the contribution of the web reinforcement. The members tested and analyzed have a shear span to depth ratio of 1.5 and were loaded in the common framing situation involving shear on the sides of the members.For the beams either with horizontal web reinforcement or without any web reinforcement the distribution of internal forces was similar, with interface shear transfer, dowel action, and shear carried by the compression zone contributing to the capacity. In the case of members for which vertical web reinforcement was provided, interface shear transfer and dowel action were decreased to comparatively small component actions in the system. Acquisition of extensive measurement data and analysis of the behaviour history through various stages of loading permit the mechanism of shear transfer to be quantitatively defined.
Experimental Investigation Dowel Action of Longitudinal Reinforcement of Reinforced Concrete Beams
