Shear Capacity of RC and Ultra High Strength Fiber Reinforced Concrete Flanged Beams

Withit PANSUK Candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Supervisor: Associate Professor Yasuhiko SATO Division of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering

Introduction
Shear resisting and failure mechanism of reinforced concrete is a long-standing key problem, which is not fully clarified and argued from various angles. The better understanding in shear resisting and failure mechanism can lead to the improvement of the shear design method. In this study, the shear resisting mechanism and capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) and ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete (UFC) flanged beams are focused. For RC beam, the attention is paid to the beams that built monolithically with the concrete slab on the top part (T-beam). As is well known, in the current design code, shear capacity of beams can be calculated based on the modified truss theory, which cannot take into account the effects of top flange area of T-beams. To predict the shear capacity of T-beams more precisely, the effect of the concrete top flange area on the shear resisting mechanism must be clarified. To understand the difference between rectangular beam and T-beam, detail experimental and analytical investigations are required. For UFC beams, it was found that there is only a small number of shear tests of UFC beams in the previous research and it can be considered that the fiber content and the presence of shear reinforcement are the important parameters on shear capacity. To understand the effect of these main parameters on the shear resisting mechanism of UFC beams, detail experimental and analytical investigations are required.

conditions. The tension-softening model proposed by Reinhardt et al. is adopted. The ascending part of the Vecchio & Collins model was applied for the two-dimensional concrete model in a plane parallel to the crack. After peak stress, the effect of crack on compression-softening is considered by the linear descending line. In this model, compressive stress is reduced to zero at limited strain u. However, the reduced stress has a limit that is 10% of the compressive strength. The gradient of strain softening is defined by the compressive fracture energy (Gfc) consumed in compressive stress parallel to the crack in the tension-compression area. Shear transfer stresses were calculated using the model proposed by Li & Maekawa. The smeared concept of considering concrete and steel reinforcement together as the reinforced concrete element is used in the finite element code so the bond between the concrete and steel reinforcement can be considered to have perfect rigidity.

Shear capacity of RC T-beams Experimental program

Two reinforced concrete beams of rectangular and T-shaped sections were tested in this study. The rectangular beam measured 3800 150 350 mm (length width height) and had an effective depth of 300 mm. The cross section of the T-shaped section was almost the same as that of the rectangular beam; only a concrete flange was attached in the top position of a whole long beam. The cross sections of both specimens are shown in Fig. 1. The stirrups in the tested part had a spacing of 110 mm, while stirrups were placed more heavily in the remaining parts of the beam. 300 150 150 75 Covering = 20 S1 S2

Outline of finite element analysis [1]

In the present study, a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element code (CAMUI) developed at Hokkaido University was used. The 3D elasto-plastic and fracture model that considers the effect of confinement, deformability and bi-axial compression in the concrete constitutive law was used for the concrete model before cracking. In this model, stresses and strains were represented by an equivalent stress and equivalent strain, respectively. The adopted failure criteria that acted in agreement with Niwas model in tension-compression domains and Aoyagi and Yamadas model in tension-tension domains were extended to 3D criteria by satisfying boundary 1

Figure 1 Cross sections (unit: mm).

400 Applied load (kN) 300 200 100 0

Turning point of shear mechanism

beam from the truss mechanism to the arch mechanism. This is already confirmed by the comparison of shear resisting components (Fig. 3). In the arch mechanism, the concrete area on the top flange of the T-beam can provide the additional area of the compression zone.

Test (S1) Test (S2) FEM (S1) FEM (S2) 100 200 300 400 Stress in stirrup (MPa)

Stress distribution and failure criteria of T-beam

To show the effect of flange width and thickness on the formation of the turning point and the increment of the shear strength of the T-beam through the arch mechanism, four additional numerical specimens, shown in Fig. 4, with a wider and thicker concrete top flange, were analyzed. These specimens had the same material properties as specimens S1 and S2. 450 75 108 NA. 150 T1 300 150 150 T3 124 250 NA. 150 T2 300 140 600 95

Figure 2 Stress development in stirrups (S1 and S2).

Shear resisting force (kN)

200 150 100 50 0

Total shear force S1 (Test) S2 (Test) S1 (FEM) S2 (FEM) Beam action Turning point 50 100 150 200 Applied shear force (kN)

Figure 3 Shear resisting components.

Stress development in specimens

Figure 2 shows that the average stresses of stirrups for both specimens are almost the same at the initial condition. After that, the average stress of the stirrup in the T-beam becomes lower than that in the rectangular beam at around 250 kN of the applied load. At the same load level, correspondingly, the shear crack propagated horizontally below the concrete top flange at the same location of the considered locations. The lower stress of the stirrup in the T-beam can be considered to be due to the change in shear resisting mechanism, which will be discussed later. In order to compare the test results with the smear-concept FE results, the average stresses of Gauss points from solid elements at the location corresponding to two considered stirrups were used. Analyzed and measured average stresses were compared as shown in Fig. 2. This figure shows that the FE results can predict the stress development in stirrup and the turning point of the shear mechanism well.

T4

Figure 4 Addition numerical specimens (unit: mm). To simply evaluate the failure criteria of the compression zone of T-beams with different flange widths, the shear stress distribution on the top flange of T-beams at failure load is considered. Finally, the failure criteria of computed specimens can be shown by the relationship between the maximum and average stress on the top flange at failure load, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. The maximum stress is averaged from Gauss points located inside web zone but the average stress is averaged from all Gauss points located in the top flange. Figure 5 shows that the maximum shear stresses at failure are almost at the same level for all specimens but the average shear stresses at failure become smaller with increases in flange width. This provides a clear explanation of the increase in shear strength of T-beams due to increases in top flange area. Moreover, the change of the slope of the relationship in Fig. 5 for T-beam specimens (specimens S2, T1 and T2) confirms the importance of the turning point of the shear resisting mechanism in T-beam. Figures 6 and 7 show that the maximum normal compressive stresses x and y at the failure zone are different for different top flange widths and the highest normal compressive stresses x and y at failure can be 2

Shear resisting mechanism of T-beam

From both the experimental and numerical results, it can be considered that the shear resisting mechanism of the T-beam is almost the same as that of the rectangular beam before the appearance of the horizontal crack. In this state, the beam action is governed by the truss mechanism. After the shear crack propagates horizontally below the concrete top flange, the stirrup stress of the T-beam becomes less than that of the rectangular beam. This can be considered to be due to the change of the governing shear resisting mechanism inside the

observed from rectangular specimen (S1 - without flange). The maximum compressive stress x is greater than the concrete compressive strength (35 MPa). This can be explained by the confinement stresses acting on other directions of the failure zone. The relationship of normal compressive stress z representing the confinement stress due to the top flange is shown in Fig. 8. Figure 8 shows that the confinement stress (z) is smaller for the rectangular beam (S1). The maximum normal compressive stress z at failure is almost at the same level for all T-beam specimens. Finally, it can be said that the exact failure criteria of the failure zone of the T-beam has to be considered three-dimensionally. Moreover, the shear stress and the confinement stress (z) at the ultimate state are the main parameters indicating failure of the T-beam section.

6 Maximum stress (MPa) 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Average stress (MPa) 6 S1 S2 T1 T2

Figure 8 Normal compressive stress (z) distribution at failure section. V

12 Maximum stress (MPa) 10

Changes 8 after 6 turning 4 point NA N a V Figure 9 Strength of concrete strut for a concentrated load near a support. From the force equilibrium conditions, the ultimate capacity of beams is controlled by the smaller value between the compressive strength of the top strut (C) and the diagonal strut (N), as shown in Fig. 9. The failure of the top strut represents the shear compression failure mode, and the failure of the diagonal strut represents the web crushing failure mode. The strength of the top strut can be calculated based on the failure criteria expressed by the relationship between the maximum and average stresses on the top flange at failure in this study. Further analysis of these systems will be the subject of continuing work. d

2 0 2 4 6 8 10 Average stress (MPa)

S1 S2 T1 T2 12

Figure 5 Shear stress distribution at failure section.

50 Maximum stress (MPa) 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 Average stress (MPa) S1 S2 T1 T2 50

Figure 6 Normal compressive stress (x) distribution at failure section.

Shear capacity of UFC I-beams Experimental program

The main parameters studied in the experiment program were the amount of fiber and the presence of shear reinforcement in the specimens. Six beams of I-shape sections were tested. The beams were 2.4 meters in total length having a span of 2.0 meters and a total depth of 400 mm. The effective depth was 350 mm. The web of the beams was designed as a thin membrane of 50 mm thickness. The top and bottom flanges were 150 mm wide. Cross sections of all specimens are shown in Fig. 10. The shear reinforcement was installed in three specimens with the spacing of 150 mm.

10 Maximum stress (MPa) 8 6 4 2 0 2 4 6 8 Average stress (MPa) S1 S2 T1 T2 10

Figure 7 Normal compressive stress (y) distribution at failure section. 3

150 60 40 200 50 40 40 50 14 40 15

account that almost the same mixture composition was used. A comparison of the tensile behavior of the concrete with 0.8% and 1.6% of fiber at the displacement up to 1 mm is shown in Fig. 11. It can be said that the higher maximum tensile stress and ductility can be obtained from mixture with higher amount of fiber.

Load-deformation relationship and capacity

Figure 12 shows the comparison of the load-deflection curves between both series. Effect of stirrup on ultimate capacity can be seen from NS00 and WS00. Moreover, even shear failure did not take place in WS08 but it can be said that the combination of fiber and shear reinforcement in WS08 gives a positive effect on the capacity of beam comparing with NS08. For the highest fiber content cases (1.6%), capacity of specimen with shear reinforcement (WS16) becomes lower than that of specimen without web reinforcement. This may be explained by the fiber blocking. Also, it can be said from the capacity and stiffness observed in this study that the replacement of conventional shear reinforcement by fiber is probable.

A (Specimens without stirrup) B (Specimens with stirrup) Figure 10 Cross sections (unit: mm).

Tensile stress (MPa)

10 8 6 4 2 0 Without fiber 0.2 0.4

1.6% fiber

0.8% fiber 0.8 1

Displacement (mm)

0.6

Stress development in stirrups

From Fig. 13, the average strains of selected stirrup from three specimens are compared. It can be seen that the average strains of stirrup for all specimens are almost the same at the initial condition. After cracking, the average strain of stirrup in the specimen with higher fiber content becomes lower than that in the specimen with lower fiber content. It can be considered that the lower strain of stirrup in the mixture with fiber is due to the crack bridging ability of fiber in mixture. This information has a very strong link to the crack displacement in the following section. And, the difference in stress development inside specimens due to fiber content representing by stirrup strains in this section can lead to the modification of the material model that will be discussed later.

Figure 11 Stress-displacement up to 1 mm.

Applied force (kN)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 NS00 5

NS16

WS08 WS16 WS00 NS08

Deflection (mm)

10

15

Figure 12 Comparison of load-deflection curve.

Applied force (kN)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 0 2000

Stirrup No.6

Crack opening and slip

In all specimens except NS00, at first vertical cracks appeared, the displacements of the crack interfaces related to each other were found by means of a decomposition of the measured values in directions parallel and perpendicular to crack directions. The results were obtained by the measurement with the manual Demec gages putting on surface of beams. It can be seen that the cracks opened at first perpendicularly, while later an increasing crack slip was observed. This shear displacement is caused by shear deformation of beam and the aggregate interlock action on a shear crack, providing such an important contribution to the shear resistance of the beams. For concrete mixture reinforced with fiber, it can be considered that fibers may have some effects on the shear crack displacement characteristics so the results in this section can provide the 4

WS00 WS08 WS16

Measured strain

4000

6000

8000

Figure 13 Comparison of stress development in stirrup.

Tensile test of material

The tensile behavior of plain concrete (NS00 and WS00 mixture) serves as a reference for the tensile tests, taking into

useful information for considering the shear transfer problem in ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete.

Modeling of UFC
For the analytical work, important structural behaviors from the authors and previous experimental data were simulated by 3D finite element code with the aim of applicability verification and modification of the analysis. The sensibility analysis of the analytical models is performed. Finally, the constitutive models for the finite element analysis of ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete such as tension softening model, tension stiffening model and shear transfer model are proposed. Tensile stress (ft) 3 2 4 Fiber 1.6% Fiber 0.8% 5 1 Fiber 0% 6 Displacement (t) Figure 14 Idealized tension softening model.

To consider the effect of fiber, the current tension softening model for concrete element have to be modeled based on the results of the direct tensile test as shown in Fig. 11. Finally, the idealized tension softening model can be drawn as shown in Fig. 14. Following the proposed model in Fig. 14, the installed tensile models for ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete beams are drawn following the average response from the direct tensile test as shown in Fig. 15. Based on the experimental study on tension stiffening reported by Shionaga [2], tension stiffening model for FE code can be proposed. Assuming the average stress-strain distribution of the reinforcing bar as the distribution of bare bar, the idealized tension stiffening can be evaluated by the strain which is the difference between the average member strain and the bare steel response. The average stress in concrete is obtained by subtracting the load carried by the bar from the total load and dividing the result by the concrete sectional area. Okamura et al. [3] include the tension stiffness in their proposed average stress-strain relation of plain concrete in tension as follow.

t = ft

tu

(1)

Tensile stress (MPa)

10 8 6 4 2 0 0.2 0.4 0.8% fiber 0.6 0.8 1

where ft is tensile strength of concrete, tu is tensile cracking strain equal to 0.02% and c is the coefficient depending on bond characteristics, e.g. is 0.4 for deformed bar. It can be considered that the bond characteristics of ultra high strength fiber reinforced concrete strongly relates to the strength of matrix and fiber content. As the result, c coefficient in Eq. (1) can be modified to fit the experimental results as follow. c = 10 ' (2) fc where fc is the compressive strength of concrete and is the fiber content in percentage. The analytical results of the average stress-strain relationship obtained by using modified tension stiffening model are plotted as broken line in Fig. 16. Good agreement with experimental results is found. Shear transfer model installed in the FE code is the average value between shear stiffness of crack plane and concrete between cracks. It is reasonable to consider that the effect of fiber on shear transfer stress can be expressed by some modification only on the method to calculate shear stiffness at crack plane Gcr. Because shear transfer behaviors are very complicated phenomena, the explanation of the model has to be base on some assumptions that are verified by the experimental results. For the sensibility analysis in the previous section, the reduction coefficient A of shear transfer model is set as 0.25 for the analysis of UFC element following the previous report [3] for high strength concrete as shown in Eq. (3). It can be simply assumed that the actual shear transferred 5

Displacement (mm)

Fig. 15 Modeling of tensile model for mixture with 0.8% fiber.

10 8

Test Model(Eq.(5))

Stress (MPa)

6 4 2

f=1.6%

f=0.8%
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 Average strain (%) 0.5

Figure 16 Comparison of proposed model with test results.

stress at crack plane reinforced with steel fiber should be between 0.25 and 1 (0.25 for high strength concrete with small-size of aggregate and 1 for conventional concrete with normal size of aggregate).

st = A f st

2 1+ 2

(3)

For specimens with 0.8% of steel fiber, it can be considered that the reduction coefficient A = 0.25 for shear transfer model of high strength concrete due to the absence of coarse aggregates is more suitable than the original shear transfer model A = 1. For specimens with 1.6% of steel fiber, it can be observed that the reduction coefficient A for shear transfer model has a small effect on the slope of the predicted crack displacement relationship. However, the larger in predicted shear transfer stress (A = 1) gives a better prediction in maximum crack width and slip. It can be considered that the presence of higher amount of steel fiber (1.6% of fiber) increases the shear transfer stress due to fiber interlocking on crack plane comparing to 0.8% of fiber case.

The design shear capacity provided by fiber reinforcement (Vfd) in the empirical design equation bases upon the same concept of the design shear capacity provided by conventional shear reinforcement that is the ultimate condition is reached when the vertical component of resisting shear stress provided by fiber or stirrup reaches their yield strength. Also, the stress distribution of vertical resisting components is assumed to be uniform throughout the considering plane in this concept. It can be considered from the actual stress distribution that the concept of uniform stress distribution in empirical design equation should be replaced by the actual stress distribution considering the actual fiber content in specimens. And, the ultimate crack opening should not be set as 0.3 mm but have to consider the actual condition observed in the experiment to improve the design equation to become more realistic.

Conclusions
The governing shear resisting mechanism of a T-beam is changed from the truss mechanism to the arch mechanism because of the formation of a horizontal crack along the boundary between the top flange and the web. A simplified method for determining the failure criteria of the compression zone of a T-beam for shear is proposed. Accompanied by the force equilibrium conditions, a simplified concept for the evaluation of the shear capacity of a T-beam can be proposed. The presence of steel fiber in the mixture can significantly increase the shear capacity of beams. The shear design equation for UFC recommended by JSCE gives a better prediction in shear strength of the experimental data in this study because this design equation was derived from the data of UFC I-beams. However, it was found that the equation did not reflect the actual condition of the specimens at the ultimate state and the effect of top flange in shear design was neglected.

Finite element simulation constitutive models

with

proposed

Proposed constitutive models were installed into finite element code CAMUI. And, the verification with the experimental data by the author was performed. From the well-predicted beam behaviors such as ultimate load, the load-deformation characteristics, crack pattern and stress development in shear reinforcement, it can be considered that the proposed constitutive models are suitable for the analysis of UFC.

Capacity of UFC beams

The important parameters for the calculation of shear strength of specimens failed in shear failure mode by the available shear design equation for high strength fiber reinforced concrete are summarized. It can be seen that the empirical equations derived for normal and high strength fiber reinforced concrete can not predict shear capacity of UFC beams in this study. However, the design equation from JSCE standard [4] empirically derived from the data of UFC I-beams gives the most suitable results among the considering equations for UFC specimens failed in shear failure mode. However, an underestimation can be observed. To consider the reason of the underestimation, the actual condition at ultimate state in the experiment and the assumed ultimate state in the design equation are compared. In the experiment, it was observed that the actual crack widths at the ultimate state are more than 1.7 and 1 mm, respectively. However, at the assumed ultimate state in the design equation, the design average tensile strength perpendicular to diagonal cracks of UFC (fvd) is defined as the average value of tensile stress up to wlim on tension softening curve. wlim is generally set to 0.3 mm in the design code [4]. 6

References
[1] Takahashi, R. and Sato, Y., 3D nonlinear punching shear simulation of steel-concrete composite slab, Journal of Advanced Concrete Technology, JCI, 3, 297-307, 2005. [2] Shionaga, R., Walraven, J. C., Uijl, J. A. den, and Sato, Y., Combined effect of steel fibers and reinforcing bars in high performance fiber reinforced concrete, 16th Internationale Baustofftagung Ibausil, Weimar 20-23 September 2006, 207-214, 2006. [3] Maekawa, K., Pimanmas, A. and Okamura, H., Nonlinear Mechanics of Reinforced Concrete, London: Spon Press, 2003. [4] Japan Society of Civil Engineers: Recommendations for Design and Construction of Ultra High Strength Fiber Reinforced Concrete Structures (Draft), Tokyo, Japan, 2006.