Influence of the supplementary reinforcement on the shear strength of beams with prefabricated truss stirrups

abstract: This paper presents the results of seven experimental tests in reinforced concrete wide beams, aiming to investigate their performance when subjected to shear, using prefabricated truss stirrups as shear reinforcement, as well as a supplementary reinforcement to control cracks by delamination. The main analysed variables were: position of the supplementary reinforcement, inclination of the shear reinforcement, and spacing between stirrups. Results showed that strength increments of up to 142% were obtained using the prefabricated truss stirrups. Furthermore, the experimental results were compared with the theoretical shear strength estimates of the tested beams, following the recommendations of NBR 6118 (2014), Eurocode 2 (2004), and ACI 318 (2014), in order to evaluate the safety level of these codes when designing concrete elements subjected to shear with the reinforcement used in this paper.

Punching Shear Strength Prediction for Reinforced Concrete Flat Slabs without Shear Reinforcement

Failure of flat slabs usually occurs by punching shear mode. Current structural codes provide an experience-based design provision for punching shear strength which is often associated with high bias and variance. This paper investigates the effect of adding a horizontal reinforcement mesh at the top of the slab-column connection zone on punching the shear strength of flat slabs. A new equation considering the effect of adding this mesh was proposed to determine the punching shear strength. The proposed equation is based on the Critical Shear Crack Theory combined with the analysis of results extracted from previous experimental and theoretical studies. Moreover, the equation of load-rotation curves for different steel ratios together with the failure criterion curves were evaluated to get the design points. The investigated parameters were the slab thicknesses and dimensions, concrete strengths, size of the supporting column, and steel ratios. The model was validated using a new set of specimens and the results were also compared with the predictions of different international design codes (ACI318, BS8110, AS3600, and Eurocode 2). Statistical analysis provides that the proposed equation can predict the punching shear strength with a level of high accuracy (Mean Square Error =2.5%, Standard Deviation =0.104, Mean=1.0) and over a wide range of reinforcement ratios and compressive strengths of concrete. Most of the predictions were conservative with an underestimation rate of 12%. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-01-013 Full Text: PDF

A Proposal to Improve the Effectiveness of the Deflection Control Method Provided by Eurocodes for Concrete, Timber, and Composite Slabs

Limited deflection of structural members represents an important requirement to guarantee proper functionality and appearance of building and infrastructures. According to Eurocodes, this requirement is ensured by limiting the maximum deflection of horizontal structural members to a fraction of their span. However, each Eurocode provides different maximum deflection limits, which are independent of the type of superstructures considered. Thus, the respect of these limits may not always guarantee the integrity of certain superstructures. In this paper, the reliability of the Eurocode deflection control methods, in guaranteeing the integrity of the superstructures, is assessed and discussed. First, different types of horizontal member, namely rib and clay (hollow) pot, composite steel–concrete, and timber beam slabs are designed to respect the deflection limit enforced by the Eurocodes. Then, the maximum curvature developed by these members is compared with the ultimate (limit) curvatures of various superstructures (e.g., ceramic and stone tile floorings). The results obtained show that the approach adopted by Eurocode 2 may provide non-conservative results, but also that the rules proposed by Eurocodes 4 and 5, albeit more reliable, do not always guarantee the integrity of the superstructure. Based on these results, an alternative method, based on the curvature control, is proposed and its advantages and limitations critically discussed. This method appears simpler and more reliable than the method currently adopted by the Eurocodes.

Strengthening flat slabs without shear reinforcement against punching shear by concrete overlay

Research in this paper presents a theoretical study of increasing in punching shear capacity of the strengthened flat slab by concrete overlay. The parametric study is based on comparison of three different relevant standards design models and presents results how Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1), Model Code 2010 and draft of second generation of Eurocode 2 (prEN 1992-1-1) take into account strengthening by concrete overlay. A reference specimen is represented by a fragment of a flat slab supported by circular column. Influence of concrete toppings depends on thickness and also on reinforcement ratio. In Eurocode 2 and new generation of Eurocode 2 the increase of punching shear resistance of the slab with concrete topping can be taken into account only by reinforcement ratio and thickness of the slab considering the perfect connection and bond between the original slab and new layer of concrete overlay. Model Code 2010 is based on Critical shear crack theory and the reinforcement ratio in concrete topping was considered in equation of moment of resistance and punching shear resistance is calculated by considering the rotation and deformation of the slab. Estimation of results by parametric study are compared by non-linear model from Atena software.

Theoretical prediction of punching shear capacity of flat slabs without shear reinforcement strengthened by concrete topping

The main reasons for strengthening flat slabs are the change of the use of a building, increase in the value of loads, degradation of the concrete cover layer, or insufficient reinforcement. This paper is focused on the assessment of punching shear capacity of the strengthened flat slabs without shear reinforcement. One of the possibilities how to enhance punching shear capacity is the addition of reinforced concrete topping. The main goal of this paper is to compare the possibilities for calculation of the increase in the punching shear capacity by investigation of the influence of different thicknesses of concrete toppings and different reinforcement ratio. A reference specimen is represented by a fragment of a flat slab with the thickness of h = 200 mm supported by circular column with the diameter of 250 mm. Three different thicknesses (50 mm, 100 mm, 150 mm) of concrete toppings were considered together with three different reinforcement ratios for each thickness of concrete overlay. Theoretical predictions of the punching shear resistance of flat slabs were evaluated by design guidelines according to the relevant standards: Eurocode 2 (EN 1992-1-1), Model Code 2010 and draft of the second generation of Eurocode 2 (prEN 1992-1-1). The differences in the influence of reinforcement ratio are significant. In Model Code 2010 the reinforcement ratio in concrete topping was considered in equation of moment of resistance. This is unlike in both of the mentioned Eurocodes, where the reinforcement ratio was assumed as a geometric average value of the original reinforcement ratio in the slab before strengthening and of the reinforcement ratio of concrete topping. All the predicted theoretical calculations are based on the perfect connection and bond between the original and new layer of concrete. These predictions should be verified by experimental investigation, which is going to be prepared shortly. By the additional increase in the thickness of concrete topping or in the amount of added reinforcement the attention should be payed to the limitation of the punching shear resistance by the value of the maximum punching shear resistance in the compression concrete strut.

Methods of Calculation the Increased Reinforced Concrete Elements by Carrying Capacity of Slope Sections

Reinforcement bending reinforced concrete structures by increasing the cross section and assessing the load-bearing capacity of the inclined section such elements is an urgent problem, as not yet accumulated adequate research data on the stress-strain state such structures in the span, which works on shear and shear bending moment and transverse force. Analyzing the development theories calculation reinforced concrete elements inclined to the longitudinal axis, we can identify many areas, the main approach of which was based on the calculation using the bases of material resistance, and the use of empirical dependencies. Theoretical approaches calculation the European construction magazine RILEM TC, SNiP 2.03.01.-84* are considered, DBN B.2.6-98 2009 (Eurocode 2), US ACI 318-19. Experimental studies reinforced concrete elements to determine the load-bearing capacity inclined sections were performed on the basis of 5 samples reinforced concrete beams, 14 reinforced samples of reinforced concrete and shotcrete a total of 19 pieces in four series. Beams were made of concrete in each series fck = 19.08 MPa; fck = 27.74 MPa; fck = 20.48 MPa; fck = 20.48 MPa, respectively, reinforced samples with concrete fck = 17.95 MPa; fck = 19.5 MPa (shotcrete fck = 31.00 MPa); shotcrete fck = 19.9 MPa; fck = 19.9 MPa. Also for the manufacture and reinforcement beams used flat and U-shaped frames with working longitudinal reinforcement Ø22, Ø16, Ø12, Ø10, Ø6 A400C, and transverse reinforcement Ø6 A240C (step 120 mm). Reinforcement inclined sections of the experimental beams was performed on one, two or three sides, depending on the variant of the sample and the type of frame flat or U-shaped. Investigations of beams were performed according to the static scheme - a beam on two supports, span L=2100 mm. Deformations of concrete and reinforcement in the samples when determining the bearing capacity of inclined sections were measured using microindicators of the clock type, strain gauges. According to the results theoretical and experimental studies the bearing capacity inclined sections to the longitudinal axis, we can see a significant reassessment between the theoretical values inclined sections according to the new DBN B.2.6.-98: 2009 (Eurocode 2) over the actual results obtained during testing samples 53-67% for conventional beams, and 27-50% for reinforced beams. The results US regulations ACI 318-19 showed convergence of results in the range of 2-9% for samples without reinforcement and 1-7% for samples with reinforcement, but the values show the excess of experimental data over theoretical, indicating the impossibility of accurately determining the actual final bearing capacity. The results the calculation obtained by the method of SNiP 2.03.01-84*, both unreinforced and reinforced beams has a satisfactory agreement with the experimental values in the range of 6-10%.

Effect of Shape, Number, and Location of Openings on Punching Shear Capacity of Flat Slabs

Experimental evidence have proved that punching shear capacity of flat slabs deteriorate with the presence of openings located within the critical perimeter around columns. It is understood that this deterioration varies inversely with the distance of openings from column’s face. However, effect of the shape of openings on punching shear capacity is not well known. This study presents experimental results of 14 flat specimens to investigate the effects of the number (2 and 4), shape (circular, square, and rectangular), and location (1 and 4 times of slab’s thickness from column’s face) of openings on punching shear strength. It was found that circular openings had least influence on punching capacity followed by square and rectangular openings, respectively. Further, placing openings at a distance of four times the slab’s thickness from column’s face had minimal impact on punching capacity. Further, increasing the number of openings from 2 to 4 substantially reduced the punching capacity. An effort was made to predict the punching capacities of all specimens using the descriptive equations of ACI 318-19 and Eurocode 2. Mean of the ratio of experimental to analytical results and standard deviation of ACI equations were found to be more accurate than those of Eurocode 2 predictions.

Performance of Mortars Made Using Ternary Binders with Addition of Slag, Fly Ash and Limestone Exposed to a Real Environmental Condition Compatible with Exposure Class XC3

The use of eco-friendly cements prepared with ternary binders could contribute to improving the sustainability of cement production. However, their use for manufacturing commercial cements is very low, at least in Spain. The purpose of this research is to study the behavior in the long term of mortars made with ternary binders which incorporated ground granulated blast furnace slag, fly ash, and limestone, exposed to environmental conditions compatible with the specifications of exposure class XC3 of the Eurocode 2, compared to mortars without additions and mortars with binary binders. The exposure station was placed in an underground floor of a building used as a garage with circulation of vehicles and moderately high CO2 concentration. The ternary and binary binders verified the prescriptions of cement type CEM II/B. The microstructure was characterized using mercury intrusion porosimetry and electrical resistivity. Water absorption, diffusion coefficient, carbonation depth, mechanical strengths, and ultrasonic pulse velocity were determined. A loss of microstructure refinement with time was noted for all the analyzed binders, probably related to the development of carbonation and drying shrinkage. The binary mortars with slag and fly ash and the ternary binder which combined them showed the best mechanical performance at 250 days.