Shear in Beams

Introduction
In the design of a RC member, flexure is usually considered first.
The beam is then proportioned for shear.

2
 Shear Stresses in Concrete Beams

The shear stress on

elements 1 & 2:
VQ
v
Ib
V : Shear force on cross section
I : Moment of inertia of cross section

b : Width of member at section

Fig. 8-1 Normal, shear, and principal stresses in a
Q   y ' A' homogeneous uncracked beam.

3
Shear Stresses in Concrete Beams

For a rectangular beam:

3
bh
I
12
The maximum 1st moment occurs at the NA:
 bh  h  bh
2

Q     
 2  4  8
max

VQ 3  V 
v      1.5
Ib 2  bh 
max ave
Fig. 8-3 Shear stress distribution
for a rectangular section.

4
Note:
Shear Cracking of RC Beams
Stress trajectories are steep near bottom and
flatter near top of the beam.
Here, 2 types of cracks can
be seen:
- Flexural vertical cracks occur
first at bottom.
- Inclined cracks near
the ends due to
combined shear
Fig. 8-2 Principal compressive stress trajectories and inclined cracks.

and flexure.
5
Shear Cracking of RC Beams
Inclined cracks can develop in the web either
as flexure-shear cracks or occasionally as
independent web-shear cracks.

Flexure-shear cracks initiate from top of

flexural crack.
For flexure-shear cracks to occur, moment
must be > Mcr and shear must be relatively
large.
6
Shear Cracking of RC Beams
Flexure-shear cracks run at angles of about
45 with the longitudinal beam axis.

Fig. 8-3 Flexure-shear cracks.

7
Shear Cracking of RC Beams
Web-shear cracks typically occur at points of
small moment and large shear.

Fig. 8-4 Web-shear cracks.

Occur at ends of beams at simple supports

and at inflection points at continuous beam.
8
 9
Fig. 8-5 Types of inclined cracks.
Web Reinforcement
An inclined crack opens perpendicular to itself.

Fig. 8-6 Inclined cracks and shear reinforcement.

10
Web Reinforcement
Inclined cracks cause the shear strength of
beams to drop below the flexural capacity.

The purpose of web reinforcement is to

ensure that the full flexural capacity can
be developed.

11
Web Reinforcement
Horizontal reinforcement restrains the opening
of a vertical flexural crack.
For an inclined crack, a combination of
horizontal flexural and vertical (or inclined)
reinforcement is needed to restrain it from
opening too wide.
The vertical (or inclined) reinforcement is
called shear reinforcement and may be
provided using stirrups.
12
 13
Fig. 8-5 Types of stirrups.
Web Reinforcement
Hangers are usually placed on the compression
sides of beams to support the stirrups.

At a location, the width of a diagonal crack is

related to the strain in the stirrup (larger
strain = wider crack).

To reduce crack width, stirrup yield stress is

limited to 420 MPa.

14
Behavior of Beams without Web
Reinforcement
If web reinforcement is not present, the
shear is transferred as follows:
- Shear resistance of uncracked section (20-
40% of total resistance)
- Aggregate interlock (33-50% of the total)
- Resistance of longitudinal reinf. to frictional
force, called dowel action (15-25% )
The shear failure of a slender beam without
stirrups is sudden and dramatic.
15
Behavior of Beams without Web
Reinforcement

Fig. 8-6 Internal forces

in a cracked beam
without stirrups.

Vcy: Shear force in compression zone.

Va: Shear transferred by interlock of aggregates.
Vd: Dowel action of the longitudinal reinf.
16
Behavior of Beams with Web
Reinforcement
Steel reinf. carries shear
directly across the
cracks.

The reinf. keeps the cracks

small and enables shear
transfer by aggregate
interlock.
Fig. 8-7 Internal forces in a cracked beam with stirrups.

Stirrups wrapped around core of concrete act like

hoops and increase ductility and strength.
17
Shear Strength of Concrete
In ACI Code the basic shear eqns. are given in
terms of shear forces, not stresses.
The nominal shear strength Vn of a member is
provided by the concrete Vc and by the
shear reinforcement Vs .

Vn  Vc  Vs

18
Shear Strength of Concrete
For members subjected to shear and flexure
only:
 f c'
Vc  bwd SI  (ACI Eq. 22.5.5.1)
6

Vc  2 f c' bwd  US

ACI Code Equation 11-3 is conservative but
easy to use.
19
Shear Strength of Concrete
An alternative - less conservative – detailed
method may be used (ACI Table 22.5.5.1):

As
w 
bw d
Vu d
1
Mu
This value must be calculated for each point considered
on the beam - “difficult” to use.
20
Shear Strength of Concrete

 is a parameter to account for lightweight

concrete.

 = 1 for normal weight concrete;

= 0.85 for sand-lightweight concrete;
= 0.75 for all-lightweight concrete.

21
Design of RC Beams for Shear
The basic design equation for the shear
capacity of slender concrete beams:
Vn  Vu
Vu: shear force due to factored loads.
The strength reduction factor:   0.75
If Vu  Vc, stirrups must be provided so that:
Vu
Vc  Vs  Vu or Vs   Vc (ACI Eq. 22.5.10.1)

22
Design of RC Beams for Shear
The nominal shear strength of the stirrups Vs
crossing the crack:
Vs  Av f yt n

n: number of stirrups crossing

the crack. d
n
s
Av: area of shear reinforcement
within s. Fig. 8-9 Vertical stirrups.

23
Design of RC Beams for Shear
If stirrup is used, Av = 2 times area of each
stirrup crossing the crack.

If stirrup is used, Av = 4 times area of each

stirrup crossing the crack.

ACI Section 22.5.10.5:

d
Vs  Av f yt (ACI Eq. 22.5.10.5.3)
s

24
Design of RC Beams for Shear
If the stirrups are inclined
at an angle  to the
horizontal, the shear
resisted by the
stirrups:
Fig. 8-10 Inclined stirrups.

Av f yt  sin   cos   d
Vs  (ACI Eq. 22.5.10.5.4)
s

25
ACI Code Requirements for Shear
ACI Code Section 9.6.3.1: If Vu > ½ Vc,
stirrups are required.
Except for:
- Footings and solid slabs;
- Certain hollow core units;
- Concrete floor joists;
- Shallow beams with h not larger than 250 mm;
- Beams built integrally with slabs with h  600
mm and h  (2.5hslab , 0.5bw).

26
ACI Code Requirements for Shear
When shear reinforcement is required,
ACI Code Table 9.6.3.3 specifies a
minimum amount:

0.062 f c' bw s 0.35bw s

A ,min  
f yt f yt

27
ACI Code Requirements for Shear
ACI Code 10.7.6.5.2: To insure that every
diagonal crack is crossed by at least 1
stirrup, the max. spacing of stirrups is the
smaller of d/2 or 600 mm.
If Vs  0.33 f c' bwd , the max. spacings are
reduced by ½.

ACI Code 22.5.1.2: Vs  0.66 f c' bwd

ACI Code 22.5.3.1: f c'  8.3 MPa
28
ACI Code Requirements for Shear
Stirrup hook requirements:
6db but not less
than 65mm

90º bends for No16 and 90º bends for No19, 135º bends for
smaller stirrups (also for 22 and 25, with fyt > No25 stirrups
No19, 22 and 25 stirrups 420MPa. and smaller
with fyt less than 280MPa)

Fig. 8-11 Stirrup details.

29
Location of Max Shear for Design
In most cases, beam can be designed for
shear at a distance d from the face of the
support.
Loads within
“d” are
transferred
directly to
the support.
Fig. 8-12 Shear force diagram for design.

30
Location of Max Shear for Design
This is not permitted in the following cases:

Fig. 8-13 Situations where end shear reduction is not permitted.

31
Design Procedure for Shear
(1) Draw Vu diag. and Calculate Vu at d.

 f c'
(2) Calculate Vc  bwd
6

1
(3) Stirrups are needed if Vu  Vc
2
(with exception for slabs, footings, shallow
members, hollow core units, and joists)
32
Design Procedure for Shear
1
(4) If Vc  Vu  Vc : Provide minimum shear
2 reinf.
0.062 f c' bw s 0.35bw s
A ,min  
f yt f yt
A ,min f yt
or smax 
 
0.062 f c' or 0.35 bw

d
Also: smax   600 mm
2
33
Design Procedure for Shear
(5) If Vu  Vc , calculate Vs required:

Vu  Vn  Vc  Vs

Vu
 Vs  Vu  Vc  Vs   Vc


Check: Vs  Vs ,max  0.66 f c' b w d

34
Design Procedure for Shear
(6) Calculate theoretical stirrup spacing:
A f yt d Assume No 10, 13,
s or 16 stirrups.
Vs

(7) Determine max spacing to provide min

area of shear reinforcement:
A f yt A f yt
smax  
0.062 f c bw 0.35bw
'

35
Design Procedure for Shear
(8) Check maximum spacing requirement:

d 
If Vs  0.33 f b d  smax
'
c w  min  ,600 mm 
2 
d 
If Vs  0.33 f c' bwd  smax  min  ,300 mm 
4 

Note : If Vs  0.66 f c' bwd  Illegal section

Design Procedure for Shear
(9) Use smallest spacing from steps 6,7 & 8.

Note: A practical limit to minimum

stirrup spacing is 75 or 100 mm

37
Example 1
Determine the minimum cross section required
for a rectangular beam so that no shear
reinforcement is required. Follow ACI Code
requirements and use a concrete strength
of 28 MPa. Vu = 170 kN.

38
Solution

Shear strength provided by concrete:

Vc 
 f c'
bd
1 0.75  28
bwd  Vc  0.6614bwd
w
6 6

1
Stirrups are not needed if: Vu  Vc
2
1
170000 N   0.6614bwd   bwd  514061 mm 2
2

Minimum cross-section required: bwd  514061 mm2

39
Example 2
The beam was designed using a
concrete strength of 21 MPa
and Grade 420 steel.
Determine the theoretical
spacing for No 10 U-shaped
stirrups for the following
values for shear:
(a) Vu = 50 kN
(b) Vu = 180 kN
(c) Vu = 670 kN
40
 Solution

Shear strength provided by concrete:

 f c' 1 0.75  21
Vc  bd
w  355 610 
6 6
Vc  124044.6 N  124 kN

(a) For Vu = 50 kN:

1
Stirrups are needed if: Vu  Vc
2
1
50 kN  124   62 kN  Stirrups not required
2

41
(b) For Vu = 180 kN:
Vu  180 kN  Vc  124 kN  Stirrups required
Vu  Vc
Calculate Vs required: Vs 
180 kN  124 kN 
Vs   74.67 kN
0.75
 
Vs  Vs ,max  0.66 21  355 610  103  655 kN

Theoretical spacing:

s
Av f yt d

 2  71 mm   420 MPa  610 mm 
2

 487.2 mm
Vs  74670 N 
42
Determine max spacing to provide min
area of shear reinforcement:
A f yt A f yt
smax  
0.062 f b '
c w
0.35bw

2  71 mm 2   420 MPa 
smax   591.3 mm
 0.062 21 355 mm 
2  71 mm 2   420 MPa 
  480 mm
0.35  355 mm 

43
Check maximum spacing requirement:
Vs  74.67 kN  0.33 f c' bwd 103   327.47 kN

d 
smax  min  ,600 mm   min  305 mm,600 mm 
2 

Choose: smax  305 mm

44
(c) For Vu = 670 kN:
Vu  670 kN  Vc  124 kN  Stirrups required
Vu  Vc
Calculate Vs required: Vs 

670 kN  124 kN
Vs   728 kN
0.75

Vs  728 kN  Vs ,max  0.66 21  355 610  103   655 kN

Need larger beam and/or larger f’c value.

45
Example 3
Select No 10 U-shaped stirrups for the beam
shown. The beam carries loads of DL = 58 kN/m
and LL = 87 kN/m. Use normal weight concrete
with a strength of 28 MPa and Grade 420 steel.

46
1) Find Vu for design: 208.8
(208.8)(4.3) = 897.84 kN

wu  1.2wD  1.6wL kN/m

wu  1.2  58   1.6  87 
wu  208.8 kN/m 448.92 kN 448.92 kN

wu l
Vu   448.92 kN
2 448.92 kN Vu
℄

At d = 0.57 m from support:

d
448.92
Vu   2.15  0.57  2.15 m 448.92 kN
2.15
Vu  329.9 kN
47
2) Calculate ΦVC:
 f c' 1 0.75  28
Vc  bd
w  380  570 
6 6
Vc  143267 N  143.27 kN

Vc
 71.64 kN
2

48
Stirrups requirements: Vc  71.64 kN 
:  2.15 m      2.15 m   1.8 m
2  448.92 kN 
 143.27 kN 
448.92 kN Vc :  2.15 m      2.15 m   1.46 m
 448.92 kN 
329.9 kN

ΦVS ΦVc = 143.27 kN

0.5(ΦVc) = 71.64 kN
ΦVC Concrete carries shear

d = 570
mm

Stirrups needed for 1.8 m

49
3) Calculate Vs required:
Vu  Vc 329.9 kN  143.27 kN
Vs    248.84 kN
 0.75
Vs  Vs ,max  0.66 28  380  570  103   756.5 kN

4) Calculate theoretical spacing:

Using No 10 U stirrups: Av = 2(71 mm2)

Av f yt d 2  71 mm 2   420 MPa  570 mm 

s   136.6 mm
Vs  248840 N 
50
5) Find max spacing to provide min area
of shear reinforcement:
A f yt A f yt
smax  
0.062 f b '
c w
0.35bw

2  71 mm 2   420 MPa 
smax   478.4 mm
 0.062 
28  380 mm 

2  71 mm 2   420 MPa 
should be   448.4 mm
0.35  380 mm 

51
6) Check maximum spacing requirement:
Vs  248.84 kN  0.33 f c' bwd 103   378.23 kN

d 
smax  min  ,600 mm   min  285 mm,600 mm 
2 

smax  285 mm

So smax  285 mm

52
7) Compute theoretical and max spacings at various
points in the beam:
Distance from Vu (kN) Vs = (VuΦVc)/Φ Theoretical Maximum
face of (kN) spacing (mm) spacing (mm)
support (m)
0 to d = 0.57 m 329.90 248.84 136.6 285
0.6 m 323.64 240.5 141.35 285
1m 240.12 129.13 263.25 285
1.2 m 198.36 73.45 462.77 285

53
  1.55 m 
At 0.6 m: Vu     448.92 kN   323.64 kN  Vs  240.5 kN
 2.15 m 

s
 
2 71 mm 2  420 MPa  570 mm 
 141.35 mm
448.92 kN  240500 N 
329.9 kN
Vu = 323.64 kN
ΦVS
ΦVc = 143.27 kN
0.5(ΦVc) =
ΦVC 71.64 kN

0.57 m

0.6 m 1.55 m

2.15 m

54
  1.15 m 
At 1 m: Vu     448.92 kN   240.12 kN  Vs  129.13 kN
 2.15 m 

s
 
2 71 mm 2  420 MPa  570 mm 
 263.25 mm
448.92 kN 129130 N 
329.9 kN
Vu = 240.12 kN
ΦVS
ΦVc = 143.27 kN
0.5(ΦVc) =
ΦVC 71.64 kN

0.57 m

1m 1.15 m

2.15 m

55
  0.95 m 
At 1.2 m: Vu     448.92 kN   198.36 kN  Vs  73.46 kN
 2.15 m 

s
 
2 71 mm 2  420 MPa  570 mm 
 462.77 mm
448.92 kN  73460 N 
329.9 kN
Vu = 198.36 kN
ΦVS
ΦVc = 143.27 kN
0.5(ΦVc) =
ΦVC 71.64 kN

0.57 m

1.2 m 0.95 m

2.15 m

56
8) Spacing selected:
The 1st stirrup is placed at s/2 from the face of
support.
Use No 10 stirrups as follows:
1 @ 75 mm = 75 mm
7 @ 135 mm = 945 mm
3 @ 260 mm = 780 mm
1800 mm
Symmetrically placed in both halves of the beam
span.
57