Chapter 2

Design of Beams for Shear

2.1. Introduction
Reinforced concrete beams resist loads by means of internal moments and shears. In the design of reinforced concrete
members, moment is usually considered first, leading to the dimensions of the cross-section and the arrangement. The beam
is then proportioned for shear.
Because a shear failure is sudden and·brittle, the design for shear must ensure that the shear strength equals or exceeds
the flexural strength at all points of the beam.

Without stirrup, there is nothing to stop the concrete from splitting due to diagonal tension as in figure a above. Stirrups
prevent this occurrence especially if they are closely spaced as in figure b.

2.2. Types of Shear Failure

a. Diagonal Tension Failure
- Usually occur when the shear span is greater than 3d or 4d.

b. Shear-Compression Failure
- Usually occurs when the shear span is from d to 2.5d.

c. Splitting or True Shear Failure

- Usually occurs when the shear span is less than the effective depth d.
2.3. Shape of Stirrups

2.4. Basic Code Requirements

a.
Vu  Vn where:

Vu = factored shear strength of the member

Vn = design shear strength of the member

 = 0.75

b.
Vn  Vc  Vs where:
and Vn = nominal or theoretical shear strength of the member provided by
Vn  Vc  Vs the concrete and shear reinforcement.
Vu  Vc  Vs Vc = shear strength provided by the concrete
Vs = shear strength provided by the shear reinforcement

2.4. Shear Strength Provided by Concrete for Non-Prestressing Member

 For members subjected to shear only

Vc  0.17 f c' bw d where:

  1.0 for normal weight concrete
= 0.85 for sand lightweight concrete
= 0.75 for all lightweight concrete
 For members subjected to shear and flexure

 Vd  where:
Vc  min  0.17 f c'  17  w u  bw d , 0.29 f c' bwd    1.0 for normal weight concrete
 Mu   = 0.85 for sand lightweight concrete
= 0.75 for all lightweight concrete
As
w 
bw d
 Mu = factored moment occurring
simultaneously with Vu
Vu d
1
Mu

 For members subjected to axial compression

 N  where:
Vc  0.17 f b d 1  u 
'
Nu  factored
 14 Ag 
c w axial load
  normal to cross section
Using ACI Table: occurring
 
Vc  min  0.17

f c'  17  w
Vu d 
Mm 
 bw d , 0.29 1 
Ag

0.29 Nu
 
f c' bw d 

simultaneously with Vu
to be taken as positive
for compression and
negative for tension, and
to include effects of
tension due to creep and
shrinkage.
Ag  gross area of section in
2
mm
Nu
shall be expressed in MPa
Ag
 4h  d 
M m  M u  Nu  
 8 
h  total depth of the beam
Vu d
not then limited to 1.0
Mu

 For members subjected to significant axial tension

 0.29 Nu 
where:
Vc  0.17 1    fc bw d  0
'

 Ag  Nu = negative for tension

f c'  8MPa

2.5. Shear Strength Provided by the Reinforcement

If
1
Vu  Vc , shear reinforcement is necessary
2
The shear strength provided by the stirrups is
 Av f yt d where:
Vs   0.66 f b d '
c w Av = area of the shear reinforcement within a distance s
s
= 2 Ab for a U-stirrup
f yt = specified yield strength of hoop, tie or spiral reinforcement

when circular ties, hoops, or spirals are used as shear reinforcement, d shall be
taken as two times the area of the bar in circular tie, hoop, or spiral at a spacing s,
s is measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal reinforcement

 When inclined stirrups are used as shear reinforcement,

Av f yt d where:
Vs   sin   cos    = the angle between inclined stirrups and longitudinal axis of
s member and s is measured in a direction parallel to the
longitudinal reinforcement.

 When shear reinforcement consists of a single bar or a single group of parallel bars, all bent up at the same distance
from the support,
Vs  Av f yt sin   0.25 f c' bw d

 When shear reinforcement consists of a series of parallel bent-up bars or group of parallel bent-up bars at different
distances from the support, shear strength shall be computed as
Av f yt d
Vs   sin   cos  
s
Only the center three-fourths of the inclined portion of any longitudinal bent bar shall be considered effective for shear
reinforcement.

 Where more than one type of shear reinforcement is used reinforce the same portion of a member, shall be computed
as the sum of the values computed for the various types of shear reinforcement.

2.6. Design Yield Strength of Stirrups

The design yield strength of shear reinforcement shall not exceed 420 MPa, except that the design yield strength of
welded deformed wire fabric shall not exceed 550 MPa. Stirrups and other bars or wires used as shear reinforcement
shall extend to a distance d from extreme compression fiber and shall be anchored at both ends to develop the design
yield strength of the reinforcement.

2.7. Spacing of Stirrups

1
a. No shear reinforcement zone ( Vu  Vc )
2
For a symmetrically loaded beam this condition usually occurs in a region close to the center of the beam. Although
the Code does not require any stirrups in this zone, a few stirrups are used to hold the main reinforcements in place.

1
b. Minimum shear reinforcement zone ( Vc  Vu  Vc )
2
This is a zone where theoretically no stirrups would be needed. The Code however, requires a minimum area of
stirrups. Provide the minimum shear reinforcement as follows:

 Av f yt Av f yt 

S1  min  , 
 0.062 f c bw 0.35bw 
'
 
 
S max  min S1 ,
d
2
, 600 mm 
c. Strength reinforcement zone ( Vc  Vu )
This is the only part of the beam for which we need to design the stirrups (i.e., this zone may require closer stirrup
spacing than the allowable maximum found in the minimum shear reinforcement zone. Provide reinforcement as
follows:


 Av f yt Av f yt 

S1  min  , 
 0.35b 
'
 0.062 f c w
b w 

When Vs  0.33 f c' bw d  d


S max  min S1 , , 600 mm
2

when Vs  0.33 f c' bw d  d


S max  min S1 , , 300 mm
4

2.8. Summary of Steps Involved in Vertical Stirrup Design

 Is shear reinforcing necessary?
1. Draw the shear diagram.
2. Calculate Vu at a distance d from the support.
 3. Calculate Vc  0.17 f c' bw d or use the alternative method.
1
4. Stirrups are needed if Vu  Vc (with some exceptions for slabs, footings, shallow members, hollow-core) .
2

 Design of Stirrups
1
1. If Vc  Vu  Vc , minimum shear reinforcement is required.
2
 Determine maximum spacing to provide minimum area of shear reinforcement.


 Av f yt Av f yt 

S1  min  , 
 0.062 f c bw 0.35bw 
'
 

When Vs  0.33 f c' bw d  d


S max  min S1 , , 600 mm
2

when Vs  0.33 f c' bw d  d


S max  min S1 , , 300 mm
4

2. If Vu  Vc ,

 Check adequacy of the section.

Av f yt d
Section is adequate if Vs   0.66 fc' bw d otherwise increase the dimensions or increase fc' .
s
Av f yt d
 Calculate the theoretical spacing, s 
Vs
 Determine maximum spacing to provide minimum area of shear reinforcement.

 Av f yt Av f yt 

S1  min  , 
 0.062 f c bw 0.35bw 
'
 

When Vs  0.33 f c' bw d  d


S max  min S1 , , 600 mm
2

when Vs  0.33 f c' bw d  d


S max  min S1 , , 300 mm
4

3. Minimum practical spacing is 75 mm – 100 mm.

Problem Set No. 03:

1. The beam shown below was selected using f y  420MPa and fc  20.7 MPa , normal weight concrete. Determine
'

the theoretical spacing of D10 U-stirrups for each of the following shears:
a. Vu  53.4 kN
b. Vu  177.9 kN
 c. Vu  266.9 kN
d. Vu  667.2 kN

2. Select D10 U stirrups for the beam shown below for which wD  58.4
kN and kN . f '  27.6MPa ,
wL  87.6 c
m m
normal weight concrete and f y  420MPa .

3. Compute the value of Vc at a distance of 0.9 m from the face of the left support of the beam of problem 2 by using
 Vd
Vc   0.17 f c'  17  w u  bw d  0.29 f c' bw d .
 Mu 
4. Select D10 U stirrups for the beam of problem 2, assuming the live load is placed to produce maximum shear at
beam end and centerline.
5. Select spacing for D10 U stirrups for a T beam with bw  250 mm and d  500 mm for the Vu diagram shown below
with f y  420MPa and fc  20.7MPa , normal weight concrete.
'

6. For the concrete section shown in the figure below for which fc  20.7MPa , normal weigh concrete.
'
a. Determine Vc if no axial load is present.
b. Compute Vc if the member is subjected to an axial compression load of 54 kN.
c. Repeat part (b) assuming at a section in question, M u  41 kN  m and Vu  180 kN . Use M m in place of Mu .
d. Compute Vc if the 54-kN load is in tensile.