Title: Initiation of Shear Cracking in Reinforced Concrete Beams with No Web Reinforcement

Author(s): Woo Kim and Richard N. White

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 88

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 301-314

Keywords: arches; beams (supports); bond (concrete to reinforcement); cracking (fracturing); flexural strength; flexural tests; reinforced concrete; shear properties; stresses

DOI: 10.14359/9447

Date: 5/1/1991

Abstract:
An hypothesis is proposed for the shear cracking mechanism in point-loaded reinforced concrete beams with no web reinforcement. The hypothesis results from an approximate analytical approach based on the observation that flexural-shear cracking results from a severe localization of internal stress after the onset of flexurar cracking. This local stress concentration is associated with the nature of bond between concrete and flexural reinforcement, and the development of arch action in the end region (shear span) of the beam. Analytical expressions are developed for predicting the shear cracking load and the corresponding location of the critical shear crack. The adequacy of these expressions is then established by comparison with published test data.