Dr. Mohammed E.

Haque, PE
Shear Design
Page 1 of 6

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Max. Shear due to loads, Vu Design Shear Capacity, Vn
Where = 0.75

Design Shear Capacity, Vn = [Design Shear strength of concrete, Vc + Design

Shear strength of reinforcement, Vs ]

Vn = Vc + Vs
Therefore, Vu [ Vc + Vs ]
Shear force that concrete can resist without web reinforcement , Vc

Vc = 2 fc (bw x d )

(ACI Eq. 11.3)

where fc is in psi; bw and d are in inches

Vu

bw

45 0

Section 1-1

1
d
Fig. 1

Dr. Mohammed E. Haque, PE

Shear Design
Page 2 of 6

Number of stirrups
crossing the crack,
n=d/s

Vu

45 0
Fig. 2

Vs = Av x fy x n

Vs = Av x fy x d/s

s = Av x fy x d / Vs

(ACI Eq.11-15)

where Av = cross-sectional area of each stirrup has crossed the crack

Av = 2 times the cross-sectional area of

the stirrup bar.

Av = 3 times the cross-sectional area of

the stirrup bar.
Fig. 3

Dr. Mohammed E. Haque, PE

Shear Design
Page 3 of 6
Fig. 4 Flow Chart
Vertical Shear Reinforcement Design
(Dr. Mohammed E. Haque, P.E.)

Known: fc, fy, d, bw and Vu

= 0.75

= 1 for normal weight

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

Vc = 2fc'. bw d

Yes

Vs = [Vu - Vc]
8fc'. bw d < [Vs ]

Section should be
enlarged.

No

Determine spacing of
vertical U stirrups based
on minimum shear
reinforcement

No

Vu > 0.5 Vc

No shear
reinforcement is
necessary
Determine
required spacing
of vertical U
stirrups based on

Yes
No

Yes

Vs

Vu > Vc
S is smaller of the two:
S = Av fy /[50 bw]
S = Av fy /[ 0.75fc' . bw]

S = Av fy d /[Vu - Vc]
S must be
S d/2 24 in

S must be
S d/2 24 in

If [Vu - Vc] > 4fc'. bw d

S d/4

Draw the beam and show

reinforcement and spacing

Dr. Mohammed E. Haque, PE

Shear Design

Page 4 of 6
A
d

Support
width = w1

Section A-A

bw

C.L. of Symmetry

wu
A

B
L

RA = wu x L /2

RA

RB = wu x L /2

d + 0.5 w1
Vu at Critical Section
Shear carried by
stirrups Vs

Vu - Vc
Vu
Vc

Shear carried by
concrete Vc
0.5 Vc

Minimum Shear reinforcement

Shear reinforcement required

Shear reinforcement
not required

0.5L

Fig. 5 Shear Reinforcement requirements

Dr. Mohammed E. Haque, PE

Shear Design

Page 5 of 6

Summary (Vertical Stirrup or Web Reinforcement Design)

1.

Draw Shear, Vu Diagram (Fig. 5)

2.

Calculate Vu at a distance d from the face of support

3.

On the Vu diagram, identify locations where (1) Shear Reinforcement required, (2) where shear
reinforcement not required, (3) where shear carried by stirrups, Vs , and (4) where minimum shear
reinforcement required (Shear carried by concrete, Vc ). [Note: SEE Fig. 5]

4.

Calculate Vc = 2 fc (bw x d), where

= 0.75;
= 1 for normal weight concrete; 0.85 for sand-lightweight concrete; 0.75 for all lightweight concrete.

5.

Calculate Vs = [Vu - Vc]

Check: If 8fc'. bw d < [Vs ], then SECTION SHOULD BE ENLARGED [STOP AT THIS STEP]

6.

No Stirrups are needed if Vu < 0.5 Vc

DESIGN STIRRUPS
7.

Determine required spacing of vertical U stirrups based on Vs

Calculate theoretical stirrup spacing, S = Av x fy x d / [Vu - Vc]
S must satisfy
S d/2 24 inch
If [Vu - Vc] > 4fc'. bw d Then S d/4

Dr. Mohammed E. Haque, PE

Shear Design

8.

Page 6 of 6

Determine spacing of vertical U stirrups based on minimum shear reinforcement.

S is smaller of the two:
S = Av fy /[50 bw]
S = Av fy /[ 0.75fc' . bw]
S must satisfy
S d/2 24 inch

9.

Minimum practical stirrup spacing is 3 to 4 inches.

10.

Draw the beam and show the shear reinforcements and spacing.