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If we load the beam with flexural loads, cutting a section, will give us the internal load
effects, Moment and Shear.
Previous discussions focused on designing the beam against flexure. We were able to get
the size of the section and arrangement of the reinforcement which will provide the
necessary strength while limits are placed on the amount of flexural reinforcement
ensuring ductile behavior.
What can we say about shear failure? Recall the uniaxial compressive test, failure of the
concrete is due to shearing - sudden and brittle.

Shown above is the equilibrium of a section between cracks. Note that the shear force
produces a stress that is parallel to the load and a complementary orthogonal stress
(parallel to the axis of the member). Cutting a section at a distance y from the neutral axis
will show the shear stress experienced by the section which is equal to
. From
mechanics, the average shear stress is simply equal to = / , lets see how it will change
for cracked section.
Applying equilibrium equation in each section (i.e. left and right section) will result to =
/ (1) and + = ( +
)/ (2). Substituting (1) to (2) will result to =
/ (3). Recall that the shear function is a derivative of the moment function, the
moment equilibrium of the element is / = (4)., combining equation (3) and (4)
gives = / (5)
Recall that shear is a function of force over the area, cutting the section containing the
reinforcement will yield to = / (6). Finally, substituting equation (5) to (6) will
result to = /
(7)

Applying equilibrium equation in each section (i.e. left and right section) will result to
equations = / (1) and + = ( +
)/ (2). Substituting (1) to (2) gives us
equation = / (3). Considering that shear is a moment derivative, the moment
equilibrium of the element is = (4). With equation (3) and (4) gives equation
= / (5)
Recall that shear is a function of force over the area, cutting the section containing the
reinforcement will yield to equation = / (6). Finally, substituting equation (5) to
(6) will result to equation = /
(7)

For a simply supported beam, V = 0 at midspan, the principal stress is the same as f, while
at the support, M = 0 (pure shear), principal stress acts at 45 from the axis of the beam
Somewhere in between the midspan and the support, with the loading V and M, the
resulting flexural stresses are v and f. This will result to a Mohrs circle shown with stresses
V( , ) and H(0, ). This will yield to the principal stresses shown above.

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For a simply supported beam, V = 0 at midspan, the principal stress is the same as f, while
at the support, M = 0 (pure shear), principal stress acts at 45 from the axis of the beam

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Shear Failures of Beams are characterized by the occurrence of inclined cracks

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But what is / ? how can we use this in characterizing the shear property of the beams?
To relate / to some physical parameter, consider the beam shown. is defined as the
shear span or the distance from the concentrated load to the face of the support. Should
the beam be supporting only a uniform load, the shear span is the clear span of the beam.

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Given a 250x500mm beam of length equal to 6m, say that the shear span is about the third
of the length (i.e. = 2 ), then assuming singly reinforced (i.e. = 435
), / = 4.65
which is actually somewhere between 2.5 and 6.5 (i.e. slender beam)

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Short discussion on arch action

Recall,
=

differentiating,
=

Two extreme cases can happen

is constant (beam action)
1.
Then, =
, where ( )/ is the shear flow transferring the tensile forces
to the compression side
2. ( )/ is equal to zero
That is, when steel is unbonded or the flow is interrupted by an inclined crack, then
=
=

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Short discussion on arch action

Recall,
=

differentiating,
=

Two extreme cases can happen

is constant (beam action)
1.
Then, =
, where ( )/ is the shear flow transferring the tensile forces
to the compression side
2. ( )/ is equal to zero
That is, when steel is unbonded or the flow is interrupted by an inclined crack, then
=
=

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So how would / ratio affect our design?

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Observation on test experiments

Upon cracking, up to 60% of the total shear force is carried by (dowel action), and
(aggregate interlock), while the remaining is carried by
(concrete shear)
As the crack widens, decreases, increasing the force carried by and .
Increase in , due to complimentary shear stress, leads to splitting crack at the
reinforcement. Consequently, reduces to zero upon splitting
Finally,
fails in crushing or buckling upward.

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Observation on test experiments

Upon cracking, up to 60% of the total shear force is carried by (dowel action), and
(aggregate interlock), while the remaining is carried by
(concrete shear)
As the crack widens, decreases, increasing the force carried by and .
Increase in , due to complimentary shear stress, leads to splitting crack at the
reinforcement. Consequently, reduces to zero upon splitting
Finally,
fails in crushing or buckling upward.

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Since ,
and
are difficult to quantify, their values are lumped in the variable,
(shear strength of uncracked beam)
= +

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When the steel ratio is small, flexural cracks extend higher into the beam and open wider
than would be the case for large values of
Note that the ordinate (i.e. shearing stress on the concrete
came from the approximate estimate of concrete elasticity

) is normalized where

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The derivation followed a rudimentary analysis of the stresses at the head of a flexural
crack in a shear span to identify the significant parameters. Then, the existing test data
were statistically analyzed to establish the constants, 1.9 and 2500, and to drop other
terms.
The 1962 equation considers slender and intermediate beams.
As discussed in Concrete Material Property lecture, the composition of concrete affects its
tensile strength (i.e. normal-weight vs. lightweight aggregate). accounts for the difference
in concrete composition. ACI 8.6.1, for sand-lightweight aggregates, = 0.85, for all
lightweight concrete, = 0.75

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If the horizontal projection of the crack is taken as , and given as the stirrup spacing,
then the number of stirrups is / . Assuming all stirrups yield at failure, the shear force
carried by the stirrups with spacing, would be (total shear force of a single stirrup
multiplied by the number of stirrup with spacing )

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Secondary functions
May transfer small force across diagonal crack by dowel action
Provide confinement to concrete Enhances the strength of concrete in compression (e.g. column)

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represents the maximum shear force that the section can support before concrete
,
crushing or = , or concrete crushing shear force

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Stirrups cannot resist appreciable shear unless they are crossed by an inclined crack. Thus,
to make sure that each 45 degree crack is intercepted by at least one stirrup, the maximum
spacing of vertical stirrups permitted by the code (11.4.5.1) is limited based on beam
depth.

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Loads approximately d distance from the support can be transferred directly to the support
by a diagonal compression strut. Thus reduced shear force is allowed in designing this
region

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Loads approximately d distance from the support can be transferred directly to the support
by a diagonal compression strut. Thus reduced shear force is allowed in designing this
region

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ANS:
12M Stirrups
1 @ 50mm
10 @ 150mm
Rest @ 200mm

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ANS:
12M Stirrups
1 @ 50mm
10 @ 150mm
Rest @ 200mm

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ANS: 320mm

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ANS: 320mm

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