Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 1

Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams

4.1 Introduction

A beam resists loads primarily by means of internal moments M, and shear V. In the design of RC
members, flexure is usually considered first, leading to the size of the section and arrangement
of reinforcement to provide the necessary moment resistance. Limits are placed on the amounts
of flexural reinforcement which can be used to ensure that if failure were ever to occur; it
would develop gradually in a ductile manner, giving warning to the occupants. The beam is then
proportioned for shear. Because a shear failure is frequently sudden and brittle, the design for
shear must ensure that the shear strength equals or exceeds the flexural strength at all points
in the beam.

Shear failure in concrete beams is of a complex nature and can occur in several ways. It is
important to realize that shear analysis and design is not really concerned with shear as such.
The shear stresses in most beams are far below the direct shear strength of the concrete. The
real concern is with the diagonal tension stress, resulting from the combination of shear stress
and longitudinal stress. A typical failure mode, for a simply supported beam is illustrated in Fig.
4.1.

Fig. 4.1 Typical failure mode due to shear for a simply supported beam

4.2 Basic Theory

Shear and Diagonal Tension in Homogenous Elastic Beams

Consider a rectangular beam made of homogenous, isotropic, and elastic material (see in Fig.
4.2a). From the principle of classical mechanics, the normal stress f and the shear stress v in a
cross section at a distance y from the neutral axis can be written as:
My
f = (4.1a)
I
And
VQ
v= (4.1b)
Ib
Where: M and V are bending moment and shear force on the cross section
Q = first moment about the neutral axis of the part of the cross sectional area lying
further from the neutral axis than the point where the shear stresses are being
calculated.
Y = distance from the element to the neutral axis
I = moment of inertia of the cross section.
b = width of the member where the stresses are being calculated

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 Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 2

Fig. 4.2 Stress trajectories in rectangular homogenous beam

Fig. 4.2b and d show the internal stresses acting on the infinitesimal elements 1 and 2. The
stresses that act on an element can again be combined into a pair of inclined compression
stresses and a pair of inclined tension stresses that act at right angles to each other. They are
known as principal stresses (see Fig. 4.2c and e). Their value is given by:

f 1
t= ± f 2 + 4v 2 (4.2a)
2 2
And their inclination α by:
2v
tan 2α = (4.2b)
f
Since the magnitudes of the shear stresses and the bending stresses f change both along the
beam and vertically with distance from the neutral axis, the inclination a as well as the
magnitudes of the resulting principal stresses t also vary from one place to another. Figure 4.2f
shows the inclinations of these principal stresses for a rectangular beam uniformly loaded. That
is, these stress trajectories are lines which, at any point, are drawn in that direction in which
the particular principal stress, tension or compression, acts at that point.

Shear and Diagonal Tension in Reinforced Concrete Beams

In reinforced concrete beams, the exact distribution of shear stresses over the depth of cross
section is not known. The shear stress distribution is the same as the homogenous beam up to
the neutral axis and it is maximum at the neutral axis and remains constant below the neutral
axis. Since concrete is ignored, the shear flow in the tension zone of concrete will be constant.
The shear stresses suddenly become zero at the level of tensile steel since the differential
compressive force between two adjacent sections is exactly balanced (See Fig. 4.3).

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 Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 3

C
d V z N.A
T
shear stress
a portion of a beam

Fig. 4.3 Shear stress distribution in Reinforced concrete beam

It is seen from Eq. (3.1) that the diagonal tension stresses t represents the combined effect
of shear stresses v and the bending stresses f. these, in turn, are respectively, proportional to
the shear force V and then bending moment M at the particular location in the beam. Depending
on configuration, support conditions, and load distribution, a given location in a beam may have a
large moment combined with a small shear force or the reverse, or large or small values for both
shear and moment (see Fig. 4.4)

Fig. 4.4 Typical locations of critical combinations of shear and moment

If flexural stresses are negligibly small at the particular location, diagonal cracks called web-
shear cracks form mostly at or near the neutral axis where the shear stresses are maximum
and propagate from that location (see Fig. 4.5a).

If the shear stresses are negligibly small at a location, vertical cracks called flexural cracks
form at the bottom of the beam where the flexural stresses are larger and propagate to ward
the neutral axis (see Fig 4.5).

The situation is different when both the shear force and bending moment have large values At
such locations, in a well proportioned and reinforced beam, flexural tension cracks form first.
Their width and length are well controlled and kept small by the presence of longitudinal
reinforcement. However, when the diagonal tension stresses at the upper end of one or more of
theses cracks exceeds the tensile strength of the concrete, the crack bends in a diagonal

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 Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 4

direction and continues to grow in length and width (see Fig. 4.5b) theses cracks are known as
flexural shear cracks and are more common than web-shear cracks,

Fig. 4.5 Diagonal tension cracking in reinforced concrete beams

In order to prevent this diagonal crack, inclined reinforcement (bent up bars) or vertical
reinforcement (stirrups), which are called shear reinforcements are provided as shown in figure
below.

(a) Shear reinforcement introduced to prevent failure

(b) Shear reinforcement in the form of bent-up bars and stirrups

(c) Detail of shear reinforcement in the form of stirrups

Fig. 4.6 Shear reinforcement

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 Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 5

4.3 Behavior of Diagonally Cracked Beams:

Figure 4.7a shows a portion of a beam, arbitrary loaded, in which a diagonal tension crack has
formed. Consider the part of the beam to the left of the crack shown in solid lines. There is an
external up ward shear force Vext = R1 – P1 acting on this portion.

Fig. 4.7 Forces at a diagonal crack in a beam without web reinforcement

It may be seen that the total external transverse force Vext, is resisted by the combination of:

1. A shear force across the uncracked portion of the concrete Vcz

2. A dowel force transmitted across the crack by the flexural reinforcement Vd
3. The vertical component of inclined shearing force transmitted across the inclined crack
by means of interlocking of the aggregate particles Viy

Thus for equilibrium:

Vext = Vcz+ Viy + Vd (4.3)

In a beam provided with longitudinal reinforcement only, the portion of the shear force resisted
by the steel in dowel action is usually quite small. In fact, the reinforcing bars on which the
dowel force Vd acts are supported against vertical displacement chiefly by thin concrete layer
below. The bearing pressure caused by Vd creates the vertical tension stress. Because of theses
stresses, diagonal cracks often result in splitting of the concrete along the tension
reinforcement. This reduces the dowel force Vd and also permits the diagonal crack to widen.
This in turn reduces the interface force Vii, and frequently leads to immediate failure.

Consider moments about points a at the intersection of Vcz and C:

The external moment, Mext,a = R1 xa – P1 (xa – x1)

The internal moment, Mint,a = Tb z + Vd p – Vi m

Equilibrium requires that Mint,a = Mext,a

M ext , a − Vd p + Vi m
⇒ Tb = (4.4)
z
Neglecting the forces Vd and Vi, which decreases with increasing crack opening, one has, with
very little error,
M ext , a
Tb = (4.5)
z

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 Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 6

The formation of diagonal crack, then, is seen to produce the following redistribution of internal
forces and stresses:

1) In the vertical section through point a, the average shear stress before crack formation
was Vext/bd. After crack formation, the shear force is resisted by a combination of the
dowel shear, the interface shear, and the shear force on the much smaller area by of
the remaining uncracked concrete. As tension splitting occurs along the longitudinal bars,
Vd and Vi decreases; this, in turn increases the shear force and the resulting shear
stress on the remaining uncarcked concrete area.
2) The diagonal crack, as described previously, usually rises above the neutral axis and
traverses some part of the compression zone before it is arrested by the compression
stresses. Consequently, the compression force C also acts on an area by smaller than that
on which it acted before the crack was formed. Correspondingly, formation of the crack
has increased the compression stresses in the remaining uncracked concrete.
3) Prior to cracking, the tension force in the steel at point b was caused by, and
proportional to, the bending moment in a vertical section through the same point b. As a
consequences of the diagonal crack, however, Eq. (4.5) shows that the tension in the
steel at b is now caused by, and is proportional to, the bending moment at a. since the
moment at a is evidently larger than that at b, formation of the crack has caused a
sudden increase in the steel stress at b. (see this relation with bar cutting ( addition of d or 12 Db
beyond ld)

4.4 Reinforced Concrete Beams with shear reinforcement

When the design shear force is greater than the shear strength of concrete, the must be web
reinforcement to with stand the excess shear. Measurements show that the web steel is
practically free of stress prior to crack formation.

After diagonal cracks have developed, web reinforcement augments the shear resistance of a
beam in fore separate ways:
1. Part of the shear force is resisted by the bars which traverse a particular crack.
2. The presence of these same bars restricts the growth of diagonal crack and reduces
their penetration in to the compression zone. This leaves more uncrcked concrete
available at the head of the crack for resisting the combined action of shear and
compression.
3. The stirrups also counteract the widening of the cracks, so that the two crack faces
stay in close contact. This makes for a significant interface force Vi .
4. The stirrups are so arranged that they tie the longitudinal reinforcement in to the main
bulk of concrete. This provides some measure of restraint against the splitting of
concrete along the longitudinal reinforcement and increases the shear force resisted in
dowel action.
Form this it is clear that failure will be imminent when the stirrups start yielding. This not only
exhausts their own resistance but also permits a wider crack opening with consequent reduction
of the beneficial resisting effects, points 2 to 4, above.

Most frequently, web reinforcement consists of vertical stirrups. The forces acting on the
portion of such a beam between the crack and the near by support are shown in Fig. 4.8.

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 Chapter Four: Shear and Diagonal Tension in Beams 7

Fig. 4.8 Forces at a diagonal crack in a beam with vertical stirrups

Equilibrium in the vertical direction requires:

Vext = Vcz + Vd + Viy + Vs (4.6)

Where Vs = nAvfs, is the vertical force in the stirrups

n = the number of stirrups traversing the crack
Av = cross sectional area of the stirrup and for U- shaped stirrups it is twice the area
of one bar.
If s is the stirrup spacing and p the horizontal projection of the crack, as shown, then n = p/s.

After the formation of inclined cracks, the stirrups yield, the dowel action Vd and the vertical
component of aggregate interlock force Viy will fall off rapidly due to widening of the inclined
cracks and longitudinal splitting.
Thus; Vext = Vc + nAvfs (4.7)

The diagonal crack form at about 45o from the horizontal, hence the horizontal projection of
the crack is assumed equal to d.

Vext = Vc + nAv f s (4.8)

p d
⇒ Vext = Vc + Av f s ⇒ Vext = Vc + Av f s
s s
Av f s d
⇒ Vext − Vc =
s
A fd A fd
⇒ Vs = v s ⇒ s= v s
s Vs
For inclined web reinforcement, the forces acting on the portion of such a beam between the
crack and the near by support are shown in Fig. 4.8.

Fig. 4.8 Forces at a diagonal crack in a beam with incline web reinforcement

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As in the case of vertical stirrups shear failure occurs, when the stress in the web
reinforcement reaches the yield point. The crack with horizontal projection P and inclined length
i = p/(cosө) is crossed by inclined bars horizontally spaced a distance s apart. The inclination of
the bar is α and that of the crack ө, as shown. The distance between bars measured parallel to
the direction of the crack is seen from the irregular triangle to be:

s
a=
sin θ (cot θ + cot α )

The number of bars crossing the crack, n = i/a, after some transformation, is obtained as:
p
n= (1 + cot α tan θ )
s
The vertical component of the force in one bar or stirrup is Avfssinα, so that the total vertical
component of the forces in all bars which cross the crack is:

p
Vs = nAv f v sin α = Av f v (sin α + cos α tan θ ) Vs (4.9)
s
As in the case of vertical stirrups:
Av f yd (sin α + cos α tan θ )
Vext = Vc + Vs ⇒ Vext = Vc +
s
Av f yd (sin α + cos α tan θ ) Av f yd (sin α + cos α tan θ )
⇒ s= ⇒ s=
Vext − Vc Vs

4.5 Truss model for shear analysis and design

The best physical model for the behavior of beams with web reinforcement is the truss model.
Consider the following beam with inclined cracks.

Uniformly loaded beam

simple truss model

Fig. 4.9 Truss model for beams with web reinforcement

The structural action of the beam can be represented by the truss of Fig.4.9b, with the main
steel providing the tension chord, the concrete top flange acting as the compression chord, the

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stirrups providing the vertical tension web members, and the concrete between inclined cracks
acting as a 45o compression diagonals. The truss is formed by lumping all of the stirrups cut by
section a-a into one vertical member and all of the diagonal concrete struts cut by section b-b
into one compression diagonal.

(a)
Beam with shear and longitudinal steel

(b) (c)
T ension in horizontal bars Diagonal compression (e)
due to shear on beam web (d) Equilibrium diagram of
Vertical tension in stirrups forces due to shear

Fig. 4.10 Basis of compression field theory

Figure 4.10b illustrates that the net shear V at a section a distance x from the support is
resisted by the vertical component of the diagonal compression force in the concrete struts.
The horizontal component of the compression in the struts must be equilibrated by the total
tension force ΔN in the longitudinal steel. Thus with reference to Fig. 4.10b & e:
V
∆N = (4.10)
tan θ
Where ө is the angle of inclination of the diagonal struts. This forces superimposed on the
longitudinal forces owing to flexure.

From Fig.4.10c, the diagonal compressive stress in a web having width bw is:
V
f cd = (4.11)
bwd v sin θ cosθ

The tensile force in the vertical stirrups, each having area Av and assumed to act at the yield
stress fy, can be found from the free body of Fig. 4.10d. with stirrups assumed to be at uniform
spacing s,
Vs tan θ
Av f y = (4.12)
dv

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Location of maximum shear

In a beam loaded on the top flange and supported on the bottoms as shown in Fig., the closest
inclined cracks that can occur adjacent to the supports will extend outward from the supports
at roughly 45o. Loads applied to the beam within a distance, d, from the support in such beam will
be transmitted directly to the support by the compression fan above the 45o cracks and will not
affect the stresses in the stirrups crossing the cracks (see Fig. 11). As a result, EBCS-2
recommends that sections located less than a distance d from the face of the support may be
designed for the same shear, Vsd, as that computed at a distance d.

(a) beam

(b) shear force diagram

Fig. 4.11 Shear force diagram for design

4.6 Design of Beam and Slabs for Shear as per EBCS 2, 1995

General

1) The ultimate limit state in shear is characterized by either diagonal compression failure
of the concrete or failure of the web reinforcement due to diagonal tension
2) Resistance to diagonal tension is obtained as the sum of resistances of the web
reinforcement and of the concrete section.
3) The critical section for shear is at a distance d from the face of the supports. Sections
closer than d shall be designed for the shear at d.

Limiting values of ultimate shear force

In order to prevent diagonal compression failure in concrete, the shear resistance VRD of a
section given as follow shall not be less than the applied shear force VSD.

VRD = 0.25fcdbwd (4.13)

Where bw is the minimum width if the web

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Shear resistance of concrete

The shear force Vc carried by the concrete in members with out significant axial forces shall be
taken as:
VC = 0.25fctdk1k2bwd (4.14)
Where
K1 = (1 + 50p) ≤ 2.0
k2 = 1.6 - d ≥ 1.0 (d in meters). For members where more than 50% of the bottom
reinforcement is curtailed, k2 = 1.0
p = As/bwd
As is the area of the tensile reinforcement anchored beyond the intersection of the
steel and the line of a possible 45o crack starting from the edge of the section ( see
Fig. 4.12)

Fig. 4.12 As to be introduced in equation 4.14

Design of shear reinforcement

1) In beams bent-up bars shall not be used as shear reinforcements except in combination
with stirrups. At least 50% of the design shear force VSD shall be resisted by vertical
stirrups.
2) Where inclined reinforcement is used, the angle between the reinforcement and the
longitudinal axis of the beam shall not be less than 45o.
3) Where the load is not acting at the top of the beam or when the support is not at the
bottom of the beam suspension reinforcement shall be provided to transfer the load to
the top of the beam.
4) When shear reinforcement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is used, its shear
resistance Vs may be calculated as:
Av f yd d
Vs = Where Av is the area of shear reinforcement with in distance s
s
5) When inclined stirrups are used, the shear resistance of the stirrups may be calculated
as:
Av df yd (sin α + cos α )
Vs = Where α is the angle of inclination from the horizontal.
s

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6) 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, the shear resistance of the
reinforcement may be calculated as :
Vs = Av f yd sin α

Minimum shear reinforcement

1) All beams , except joists of ribbed slabs, shall be provided with at least the minimum
web reinforcement given by:
0.4
ρ min = where fyk is in MPa
f yk
2) The maximum spacing Smax between stirrups, in the longitudinal direction, shall be as
given below:
2
S max = 0.5d ≤ 300mm if Vsd ≤ Vrd
3
2
S max = 0.3d ≤ 200mm if Vsd > Vrd
3
3) The transverse spacing of legs of stirrups shall not exceed d, or 800 mm, whichever is
smaller.

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