Shear Stresses in Concrete

Beams

Stresses Near Support

x

Near Top
y

Max. tensile stresses

a few degrees clockwise
x

Mid-height

Max tensile
stress 45
y

Max. tensile stresses

a few degrees ccw

Near bottom

x
y

Shear Failure Path

Vertical reinforcing steel, shear stirrups, are added to resist
the portion of the shear force not resisted by the concrete.

Shear Strength of Concrete

The shear strength of a reinforced concrete beam is a result
of the dowel force, aggregate interlock, and shear
compression force.

Vc 2 f 'c bwd
fc in psi

Shear Strength of Steel Stirrups

Vs

Av f y d

where,

s = stirrup spacing
Av = total cross-sectional area
of the vertical legs of one stirrup

For equilibrium:

Vu (Vc Vs )

where, = 0.75

For design:

Av f y d
Vs

Vs

Vu

Vc

ACI Limitations on Stirrup Spacing

1. s d if Vs 4 f 'c bwd , fc in psi. And for
Vu
f
'
b
d

2 f 'c bw d
beams and girders if
c w

2. s d if 4 f 'c bwd Vs 8 f 'c bwd

3. s

4 Av f y
3bw f 'c

(upper limit on Vs)

,fy in ksi and Av in in2

4. s < 3 in. to allow placement of concrete

Shear Analysis
Coefficients for shear given on p. 19 of notes or
Part 5 of Manual of Steel Construction
If a beam or girder is supported in such a way
that vertical compression is induced in the
bottom, as will be the case if support is provided
by a column or a considerably deeper member,
the shear force a distance d from the support is
used for design.

Design of Shear Reinforcement

for Previous Example p. 21 notes
The partial office building floor plan shown had
beams spanning 30 ft and girders spanning 24 ft.
Design the slab, beams, and girders to support a
live load of 80 psf and a dead weight of 15 psf in
addition to the self weight of the structure. Use
grade 60 reinforcing steel and 4000 psi concrete.
30 ft

24 ft
24 ft
24 ft

30 ft

30 ft

30 ft