A simply supported beam has a clear span ln= 22 ft and is subjected to an external

uniform service load wD = 900 lb/ft and live load wL = 1200 lb/ft Determine the
maximum factored shear Vu at the critical section. Also determine the nominal shear
resistance Vn by both the short method and by the more refined method of taking the
contribution of the flexural steel into account. Design the size and spacing of the
diagonal tension reinforcement. Given.

b 12 in
d 17 in
h 20 in
As 6.0 in2
fc 4 ksi
fy 60 ksi

Compute self-weight of the beam

2
 ( 1 ft.) 
= Aγ = ( 12 in.) ( 20 in.)   ( 0.15 k/ft )
3
wBEAM
( 12 in. )
= 0.25 k/ft

Compute the loads of the beam

wu = 1.2 wDL + 1.6 wLL

= 1.2 ( 0.25 k/ft + 0.9 k/ft ) + 1.6 ( 1.2 k/ft )
= 3.3 k/ft

The dead load component is 1.38 k/ft and live load component is 1.92 k/ft .Draw the
shear diagram
The shear and bending moment

Shear

40

30

20

10
Shear (kips)

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
-10

-20

-30

-40
location (ft)

Moment

250

200
Moment (k-ft)

150

100

50

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
location (ft)

The shear at d (17 in or 1.417 ft) and moment is

3.3 k/ft ( 22 ft )
Vu = = 36.3 k
2
Vu ( 1.417 ft ) = 36.3 k − 3.3 k/ft ( 1.417 ft )
= 31.625 k
The moment is

( 1.417 ft )
2

M u ( 1.417 ft ) = 36.3 k ( 1.417 ft ) − 3.3 k/ft

2
= 48.114 k-ft ( 577.36 k-in )

Compute the strength of the concrete

1k
Vc = 2 fc bd = 2 4000 ( 12 in.) ( 17 in.)
1000 lb
= 25.8 k

The nominal shear is

Vu 31.625 k
Vn = =
φ 0.75
= 42.167 k
The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed by the concrete, so steel
reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 42.17 k – 25.8 k = 16.37 k.

Determine the maximum allowable spacing from the Vs ≤ 4 f c bd = 51.6 k so that

 d 17 in.
 = = 8.5 in.
smax ≤ 2 2 ⇒ smax ≤ 8.5 in.
 24 in.

Try #3 bar (0.11 in2) and Av = 2(0.11 in2) = 0.22 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.22 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 17 in ) \
2

16.37 k
s ≤ 13.71 in. ∴ Use s = 8.5 in.
Use the refined method

Vu d
Vc = 1.9 fc bd + 2500 ρw bd ≤ 3.5 fc bd
Mu
As 6.0 in 2
ρw = = = 0.0294
bd ( 12 in.) ( 17 in.)
Vu d ( 31.625 k ) ( 17 in.)
= = 0.93 ≤ 1.0
Mu ( 577.36 k-in )
 1.9 4000 ( 12 in.) ( 17 in.)  1k 1k
Vc =   ≤ 3.5 4000 ( 12 in.) ( 17 in.)
 +2500 ( 0.0294 ) ( 0.93) ( 12 in.) ( 17 in.)  1000 lb 1000 lb
 
= 38.46 k ≤ 45.16 k
The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed by the concrete, so steel
reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 42.17 k – 38.46 k = 3.71 k.

Determine the maximum allowable spacing from the Vs ≤ 4 f c bd = 51.6 k so that

 d 17 in.
 = = 8.5 in.
smax ≤ 2 2 ⇒ smax ≤ 8.5 in.
 24 in.

Try #3 bar (0.11 in2) and Av = 2(0.11 in2) = 0.22 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.22 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 17 in )
2

16.37 k
s ≤ 13.71 in. ∴ Use s = 8.5 in.
6.6 Design the vertical stirrups for a beam having the shear diagram in the figure assume
that Vc = 2 fc bd Given

b 14 in
d 20 in
Vn1 75 kips
Vn2 60 kips
Vn3 45 kips
fc 4 ksi
fy 60 ksi

Compute the strength of the concrete

1k
Vc = 2 fc bd = 2 4000 ( 14 in.) ( 20 in.)
1000 lb
= 35.42 k
The nominal shear is

Vu 75.0 k
Vn = =
φ 0.75
= 100 k

The new shear diagram

The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed by the concrete, so steel
reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 100 k – 35.42 k = 64.58 k.

Determine the maximum allowable spacing from the Vs ≤ 4 f c bd = 70.84 k so that

 d 20 in.
 = = 10 in.
smax ≤ 2 2 ⇒ smax ≤ 10 in.
 24 in.

Try #4 bar (0.2 in2) and Av = 2(0.2 in2) = 0.4 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

64.58 k
s ≤ 7.43 in. ∴ Use s = 6 in.
You could have used 7 in, by using 6 in the spacing can

The nominal shear is

Vu 60.0 k
Vn = =
φ 0.75
= 80 k
The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed by the concrete, so steel
reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 80 k – 35.42 k = 44.58 k.

Try #4 bar (0.2 in2) and Av = 2(0.2 in2) = 0.4 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

44.58 k
s ≤ 10.77 in. ∴ Use s = 10 in.

The nominal shear is

Vu 45.0 k
Vn = =
φ 0.75
= 60 k
The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed by the concrete, so steel
reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 60 k – 35.42 k = 24.58 k.

Try #3 bar (0.11 in2) and Av = 2(0.11 in2) = 0.22 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.22 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

24.58 k
s ≤ 10.74 in. ∴ Use s = 10 in.

These results are for the points of interest but if you are going to do a design of shear
system. You would need to design a stirrup system. You would need to create a
equation of a line for each location from the 100 k design using a # 4 stirrup.
From 20 in to 57 in., the equation of the shear component is

Vn ( x ) = m ( x − 20 in.) + b
80 k − 100 k
m= = −0.541 k/in
57 in. − 20 in.
b = 100 k

The second equation is from 57 in to 120 in. of the shear

Vn ( x ) = m ( x − 57 in.) + b
0 k − 60 k
m= = −0.9524 k/in
120 in. − 57 in.
b = 60 k

Use two stirrups at 4 in. initial stirrup and 6 #4 at 6in spacing. The shear strength
provided by 6 in spacing is

Vs =
Av f y d
=
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

s 6 in.
= 80.0 k

The nominal shear provided is Vn = 80.0 k + 35.42 k = 115.42 k.

From the location, 4 in+36 in = 40 in. Plug in to the equation to find the nominal shear.

Vn ( x ) = −0.541 k/in ( x − 20 in.) + 100 k

= −0.541 k/in ( 40 in. − 20 in.) + 100 k
= 89.19 k

Compute the spacing. The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed
by the concrete, so steel reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 89.19 k – 35.42 k =
53.77 k.

Try #4 bar (0.2 in2) and Av = 2(0.2 in2) = 0.4 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

53.77 k
s ≤ 8.92 in. ∴ Use s = 8 in.
The shear strength provided by 8 in spacing is

Vs =
Av f y d
=
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

s 8 in.
= 60.0 k

The nominal shear provided is Vn = 60.0 k + 35.42 k = 95.42 k.

Use 5 #4 at 8in spacing and the location will be 40 in+40 in = 80 in. Plug in to the
equation to find the nominal shear.

Vn ( x ) = −0.9524 k/in ( x − 57 in.) + 60 k

= −0.9524 k/in ( 80 in. − 57 in.) + 60 k
= 38.1 k

Compute the spacing. The nominal shear required is greater than the maximum allowed
by the concrete, so steel reinforcement is needed Vs = Vn – Vc = 38.1 k – 35.42 k = 2.7 k.

Try #4 bar (0.2 in2) and Av = 2(0.2 in2) = 0.4 in2, the actual required spacing is

Av f y d Av f y d
Vs = ⇒s≤
s Vs

s≤
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

2.7 k
s ≤ 177.78 in. ∴ Use s = 10 in.

The shear strength provided by 10 in spacing is

Vs =
Av f y d
=
( 0.4 in ) ( 60 ksi ) ( 20 in )
2

s 10 in.
= 48.0 k

The nominal shear provided is Vn = 48.0 k + 35.42 k = 83.42 k.

The largest spacing is 10 in so use 4 #4 bars at 10 in. The summary of the stirrup design
is

Stirrup Vn Vs(req) Vs(provided) Vn(provided) s(req) s(provided) xstart xfinish

2 #4 100 k 64.58 k 7.43 in 4 in 0 in. 4 in.
6 #4 100 k 64.58 k 80 k 115.42 k 7.43 in 6 in 4 in. 40 in.
5 #4 89.19 k 53.77 k 60 k 95.42 k 8.92 in 8 in. 40 in. 80 in.
4 #4 38.1 k 2.7 k 48 k 83.42 k 177.78 in. 10 in 80 in. 120 in.
You can have other variations of this type of chart.