SHEAR AND

DIAGONAL
TENSION IN BEAMS
REINFORCED CONCRETE DESIGN
CE 512

ENGR. CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO

 SHEAR AND DIAGONAL TENSION IN BEAMS
• SHEAR STRESSES IN CONCRETE BEAMS
• SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
• WEB REINFORCEMENTS
• DESIGN FOR SHEAR
• SHEAR STRENGTH OF MEMBERS SUBJECTED TO AXIAL FORCES
• SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRESSES IN CONCRETE

GENERAL

Another type of beam failure other than bending is shear failure or

diagonal tension failure. Shear failures are very dangerous especially if it
happens before flexure failure because they can occur without warning. To
avoid shear failure, the Code provides permissible shear values that have
larger safety factors compared to bending failure, thus ensuring ductile
type of failure.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRESSES IN CONCRETE

SHEAR FAILURE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRESSES IN CONCRETE

DIAGONAL TENSION IN HOMOGENEOUS ELASTIC BEAMS
when the material is elastic act at any section shear stress in addition
to the bending stress except at the location where shear force is zero.

𝑉𝑄
𝑣=
𝐼𝑏

𝑀𝑦
𝑓=
𝐼

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRESSES IN CONCRETE

STRESS TRAJECTORIES IN HOMOGENEOUS RECTANGULAR BEAMS

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

𝑉𝑛 = 𝑉𝑐 + 𝑉𝑠
where:
𝑉𝑛 - nominal or theoretical shear strength of a member
𝑉𝑐 - shear strength of concrete
𝑉𝑠 - shear strength of shear reinforcement

∅𝑉𝑛 = ∅𝑉𝑐 + ∅𝑉𝑠

𝑉𝑢 = ∅𝑉𝑐 + ∅𝑉𝑠
(english system)
𝑉𝑐 = 2λ 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
(metric system)
λ 𝑓𝑐′
𝑉𝑐 = 𝑏𝑤 𝑑
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO
6 ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

TWO TYPES OF CRACKS
Expected to form when the
diagonal tension stress in the vicinity
of the neutral axis becomes equal
to the tensile strength of the
concrete.

Varies from about

3 𝑓𝑐′ to about 5 𝑓𝑐′
In regions with large shear and
small moment, diagonal tension
cracks form at an average
𝑉𝑐𝑟
𝑣𝑐𝑟 = = 3.5 𝑓𝑐′
𝑏𝑑
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

When both shear force and moment
have large values, flexural tension
cracks form first.

Flexural shear cracks happen when the

diagonal tension stress at the upper
end of one or more of these cracks
exceed the tensile strength of the
concrete.

It is more common than web-shear

cracks
𝑉𝑐𝑟
𝑣𝑐𝑟 = = 1.9 𝑓𝑐′
𝑏𝑑
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

Conservatively:
𝑉𝑢 𝑑 𝑏𝑤 𝑑
𝑉𝑐 = λ 𝑓𝑐′ + 120𝜌𝑤 ≤ 0.3λ 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
𝑀𝑢 7

𝑉𝑢 𝑑
≤ 1.0
𝑀𝑢

𝐴𝑠
𝜌𝑤 =
𝑏𝑤 𝑑
where:
𝑀𝑢 - factored moment occurring simultaneously with factored
shear at the section considered

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

WEB REINFORCEMENT

Sometimes called as stirrups

Type of reinforcement which enclose the longitudinal reinforcing along the
faces of the beam
Provided when factored shear is high to prevent excessive cracking on
concrete

ACI does not permit the design yield stress of the stirrups to exceed 420 MPa
For deformed welded wire fabric the maximum yield stress is 550 MPa.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

WEB REINFORCEMENT

The code requires web reinforcement for all major beams

minimum area of web reinforcing is required for all concrete flexural
members except :
• footings and solid slabs;
• certain hollow-core units;
• concrete floor joists;
• shallow beams with h not more than 10 in.;
• beams integral with slabs with h less than 24 in. and h not greater
than the larger of two and a half times their flange thicknesses or
one-half their web widths; or
• beams constructed with steel fiber–reinforced, normal-weight
concrete with fc’ not exceeding 6,000 psi, h not greater than 24 in.,
and Vu not greater than 2φfc’bwd.
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

WEB REINFORCEMENT
TYPE OF STIRRUPS

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

WEB REINFORCEMENT
TYPE OF STIRRUPS

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

WEB REINFORCEMENT
TYPE OF STIRRUPS

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

WEB REINFORCEMENT
ADVANTAGES OF WEB REINFORCEMENT

• The steel reinforcing passing across the cracks carries shear directly.

• The reinforcing keeps the cracks from becoming larger, and this enables
the concrete to transfer shear across the cracks by aggregate interlock.

• The stirrups wrapped around the core of concrete act like hoops and thus
increase the beam’s strength and ductility.

• The holding together of the concrete on the two sides of the cracks helps
keep the cracks from moving into the compression zone of the beam.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

𝑉𝑢 ≤ ∅𝑉𝑛

∅ = 0.75

𝑉𝑢 = ∅𝑉𝑐 + ∅𝑉𝑠

Non-prestressed member without axial force:

𝑉𝑐 = 0.17λ 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Detailed method of calculating 𝑉𝑐 :

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Non-prestressed member with axial compression force:

𝑁𝑢
𝑉𝑐 = 0.17 1 + λ 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
14𝐴𝑔

where:
𝑁𝑢 - positive for compression
𝑁𝑢
- must be expressed in MPa
𝐴𝑔

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Detailed method of calculating 𝑉𝑐 :

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Non-prestressed member with significant axial tension force:

𝑁𝑢
𝑉𝑐 = 0.17 1 + λ 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑 > 0
3.5𝐴𝑔

where:
𝑁𝑢 - negative for tension

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Nominal shear strength of stirrups:

𝑉𝑠 = 𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑛

𝑑
𝑛=
𝑠

𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑑
𝑉𝑠 =
𝑠

So that

𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑑
𝑠=
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO
𝑉𝑠 ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

For stirrups inclined at an angle 𝛼:

𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 𝑑

𝑉𝑠 =
𝑠

For a bent-up bar or a group of bent-up bars at the same distance from the
support
𝑉𝑠 = 𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 ≤ 0.25 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

LIMITING MATERIAL STRENGTH:

For one way shear

𝑓𝑐 ′ ≤ 8.3 𝑀𝑃𝑎

For reinforced or prestressed concrete beams and concrete joist

𝑓𝑐 ′ > 8.3 𝑀𝑃𝑎

Is permitted having minimum web reinforcement

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

MODIFICATION FACTOR

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

MODIFICATION FACTOR

If average splitting tensile strength 𝑓𝑐𝑡 is specified

𝑓𝑐𝑡
λ= ≤ 1.0
0.56 𝑓𝑐𝑚

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

MINIMUM SHEAR REINFORCEMENT:
• Minimum area of shear
reinforcement, 𝐴𝑣𝑚𝑖𝑛 , shall
be provided in all regions
where; 𝑉𝑢 > 0.5∅𝑉𝑐 except as
stated in NSCP 2015 Table
409.6.3.1

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

MINIMUM SHEAR REINFORCEMENT:

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

SPACING REQUIREMENT OF WEB REINFORCEMENT

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

STEPS IN THE DESIGN OF VERTICAL STIRRUPS:
1. Draw factored shear diagram 𝑉𝑢 .
2. Calculate 𝑉𝑢 at a distance d from the support.
3. Calculate ∅𝑉𝑐 = 0.17λ 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
4. Stirrups are needed if 𝑉𝑢 > 0.5∅𝑉𝑐
𝐴𝑣 𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑑 𝑉𝑢 −∅𝑉𝑐
5. Calculate theoretical stirrup spacing, 𝑠 = , where, 𝑉𝑠 =
𝑉𝑠 ∅
6. Determine maximum spacing to provide minimum area of shear
reinforcement
𝑑
7. Compute maximum spacing, 2 ≤ 600 𝑚𝑚, if 𝑉𝑠 ≤ 0.33 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
𝑑
8. Compute maximum spacing, 4 ≤ 300 𝑚𝑚, if 𝑉𝑠 > 0.33 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
9. 𝑉𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑕𝑎𝑛 0.66 𝑓𝑐′𝑏𝑤 𝑑
10. Check for minimum stirrups spacing
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Example 1:
The beam shown was selected using 𝑓𝑦 = 60,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖 and 𝑓𝑐 ′ = 3,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖,
normal weight. Determine the theoretical spacing of #3 stirrups for each of
the following shears:
(a) 𝑉𝑢 = 12,000 𝑙𝑏𝑠
(b) 𝑉𝑢 = 40,000 𝑙𝑏𝑠
(c) 𝑉𝑢 = 60,000 𝑙𝑏𝑠
(d) 𝑉𝑢 = 150,000 𝑙𝑏𝑠

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Example 2:
𝑘 𝑘
Select #3 stirrups for the beam shown for which 𝑤𝐷 = 4 𝑓𝑡, and 𝑤𝐿 = 6 𝑓𝑡.
Using 𝑓𝑐 ′ = 4,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖, normal weight, and 𝑓𝑦𝑡 = 60,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

DESIGN FOR SHEAR

Example 3:
For the concrete section shown for which 𝑓𝑐 ′ =
3,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖, normal weight (λ = 1.0),
a) Determine 𝑉𝑐 if no axial load is present.
b) Compute 𝑉𝑐 if the member is subjected to an
axial compression load of 12,000 lb.
c) Repeat part (b) using the detailed method of
calculating 𝑉𝑐 . At the section in question,
assume 𝑀𝑢 = 30 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠 ∗ 𝑓𝑡 and 𝑉𝑢 = 40 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠. Use
𝑀𝑚 in place of 𝑀𝑢 .
d) Compute 𝑉𝑐 if the 12,000-lb load is tensile.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

Shear friction failures are most likely to occur in short, deep members
subject to high shears and small bending moments

bracket or corbel is a short cantilever member having a ratio of clear span

to depth (a/d) of 1.0 or less.

When brackets or corbels or short, overhanging ends or precast

connections support heavy concentrated loads, they are subject to
possible shear friction failures.

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

POSSIBLE SHEAR FRICTION FAILURE

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

DESIGN SHEAR STRENGTH OF THE MEMBER

∅𝑉𝑛 = 𝑉𝑢 = ∅𝐴𝑣𝑓 𝑓𝑦 𝜇

𝑉𝑢
𝐴𝑣𝑓 =
∅𝑓𝑦 𝜇

𝑓𝑦 ≤ 60 𝑘𝑠𝑖

For normal-weight concrete placed monolithically or placed against

intentionally roughened concrete
𝑉𝑛 ≤ 0.2𝑓𝑐′𝐴𝑐
𝑉𝑛 ≤ 480 + 0.08𝑓𝑐 ′ 𝐴𝑐
𝑉𝑛 ≤ 1,600𝐴𝑐
CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT
SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

For all other cases
𝑉𝑛 ≤ 0.2𝑓𝑐′𝐴𝑐
𝑉𝑛 ≤ 800𝐴𝑐

where:
𝐴𝑐 - concrete contact area along the shear-friction failure
surface 𝑖𝑛2
𝑙𝑏𝑠
𝑓𝑐′ - concrete compressive strength 𝑖𝑛2
𝜇 - friction factor

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

RECOMMENDED FRICTION FACTOR, 𝜇

Concrete placed monolithically 1.4λ

Concrete placed against hardened concrete with surface 1.0λ
intentionally roughened
Concrete placed against hardened concrete not 0.6λ
intentionally roughened
Concrete anchored to as-rolled structural steel by headed 0.7λ
studs of reinforcing bars

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

EXAMPLE OF CORBELS

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT

SHEAR AND
DIAGONAL TENSION

SHEAR FRICTION AND CORBELS

EXAMPLE 1:
A precast beam must be designed to resist a support reaction , at factored
loads of 𝑉𝑢 = 100 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠 applied to a 3 x 3 steel angle as shown. In lieu of a
calculated value, a horizontal force 𝑁𝑢 owing to restrained volume
change, will be assumed to be 20% of the vertical reaction. Determine the
required auxiliary reinforcement, using 𝑓𝑦 = 60,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖, 𝑓𝑐 ′ = 5,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖

CHRISTOPHER S. PALADIO ASCOT