Single Web Shear Element Model for Shear Strength of RC Beams with Stirrups

In this paper, an analytical model to rationally evaluate the shear strength of reinforced concrete beams with stirrups has been developed. In the developed model, a shear critical section has been idealized with a single web element for shear and the top and bottom chords for flexure, respectively. With the longitudinal strain at the mid-depth in the shear critical section, evaluated from the flexural analysis, the web element has been analyzed, based on the analysis procedure modified from the modified compression field theory finite element formulation. Through the comparison with the test results of 201 reinforced concrete beams with stirrups exhibiting shear failure before flexural yielding, it was investigated that the developed model well predicted the actual shear strength of reinforced concrete beams with stirrups. In addition, it was investigated that the developed model rationally considered the effect of main parameters such as concrete compressive strength, shear span-depth ratio, stirrup ratio, and member depth. Through simplification, the developed model can be useful to develop more rational shear design provisions for reinforced concrete members with stirrups.