Shear Strength

Determine shear strength provided by the concrete1;

Members subject to axial compression not applied at this stage.
φVc = φ*0.17*λ* f`c0.5*bw*d = φ*0.17*λ*f`c0.5*bw*d metric-units

φ*2*λ*f`c0.5*bw*d = φ*2*λ*f`c0.5*bw*d US-units

where

φ = 0.75 for shearA

λ = 1.0 for normal weight concreteB

f` c0.5 = square root of specified compressive strength of concrete.C

A ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 9.3.2.3

B
ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 8.6.1
C ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.1.2.1

Note; If the structure is defined as a joist construction Vc shall be permitted to be 10% more than
that specified in above2.
φVc,j = 1.1*φVc
IF
Vu - φVc ≤ φ*0.66*f`c0.5*bw*dA = φ*0.66*f`c0.5 *bw*d metric-units

= φ*8*f`c0.5*bw*d = φ*8*f`c0.5 *bw*d US-units

where

Vu = the maximum design shear force acting anywhere on the beam

A ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.4.7.9

THEN the shear design process can proceed.

ELSE the shear design process FAILS since the section size or strength of the concrete is inadequate
for shear. No further shear calculations are carried out in the region under consideration and the
user is warned accordingly.

The design shear capacity of the minimum area of shear links actually provided, Vs,min is given by3;
Vs,min = (Av,min/s)*φ*d*fyt
where
 Av,min is the area of shear reinforcement provided to meet the minimum requirements.

For each beam determine the following;

Vu,maxL = the maximum vertical shear force at the face of the left hand support
Vu,dL = the vertical shear force at a distance dL from the face of the left hand support
Vu,maxR = the maximum vertical shear force at the face of the right hand support
Vu,dR = the vertical shear force at a distance dR from the face of the right hand support
Vu,S2L = the maximum vertical shear force at the extreme left of region S2
Vu,S2R = the maximum vertical shear force at the extreme right of region S2
where
dL = the minimum effective depth of the beam in regions T1 and B1
dR = the minimum effective depth of the beam in regions T5 and B3

For region S1;

IF
ABS(Vu,maxL) – ABS(Vu,dL) ≤ 0.25*ABS(Vu,maxL)
THEN
Vu,S1 = ABS(Vu,dL)
ELSE
Vu,S1 = ABS(Vu,maxL)
For region S3;
IF
ABS(Vu,maxR) – ABS(Vu,dR) ≤ 0.25*ABS(Vu,maxR)
THEN
Vu,S3 = ABS(Vu,dR)
ELSE
Vu,S3 = ABS(Vu,maxR)
For region S2;
IF
ABS(Vu,maxL) – ABS(Vu,dL) ≤ 0.25*ABS(Vu,maxL)
Vu,S2L = MIN[ABS(Vu,S2L), ABS(Vu,dL)]
ELSE
Vu,S2L = Vu,S2L
IF
ABS(Vu,maxR) – ABS(Vu,dR) ≤ 0.25*ABS(Vu,maxR)
Vu,S2R = MIN[ABS(Vu,S2R), ABS(Vu,dR)]
ELSE
Vu,S2R = Vu,S2R
The absolute maximum vertical shear force in the region is then given by;
Vu,S2 = MAX[ABS(Vu,S2L), ABS(Vu,S2R)]
In any region, i;
IF
Vu,i ≤ Vs,min + φVc
where
Vu,i = the maximum shear in region i from the above routines
OR
The structure is defined as a joist construction4.
THEN
Minimum shear reinforcement shall be used;
And the nominal shear strength is given;
φVn = φVc + Vs,min 5
ELSE
Vu,i > Vs,min+ φVc
THEN shear links are required in the region.
The area of shear reinforcement required is then given6;
metric-units;
(Av /s)Si = MAX[(Vu- φ*Vc)/ (φ*fyt*d), 0.062* f`c0.5 *bw /fyt, 0.35Pa*bw/fyt]
US-units;
(Av /s)Si = MAX[(Vu- φ*Vc)/ (φ*fyt*d), 0.75* f`c0.5 *bw /fyt, 50psi*bw/fyt]
Vs = (Av/s)*φ*d*fyt

IF
Vs ≤ 0.66*fc`0.5*bw*d7 metric -units 8*fc`0.5*bw*d US-units
THEN the shear design process passes.
And the nominal shear strength is given;
φVn = φVc + Vs
ELSE the shear design process FAILS since the section size or strength of the concrete is inadequate
for shear.

Parent topic
• Design for Shear
1. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.2.1.1

2. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 8.13.8

3. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.4.7.2

4. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.4.6.1 - Terms (d) and (e) not applied at this stage.

5. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.1

6. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.4.6.3

7. ACI 318-08:2008, ACI 318-11:2011 and ACI 318M-11:2011 Section 11.4.7.9