An Experimental Investigation into Shear Capacity of High Strength Concrete Beams

The shear capacity of the concrete beams having stirrups is assumed as the sum of individualcontributions of both the concrete and shear reinforcement. Different international building codes have suggested empirical relations for both of these contributions. In this research seventy beams with five values of longitudinal reinforcement and seven values of shear span to depth (a/d) ratios were tested in two sets of thirty five beams each, without and with shear reinforcement to study the contribution of the stirrups in resisting the shear. The beams were tested under the concentrated load at the mid span. The test results were analyzed for the contribution of stirrups, the effect of longitudinal steel and shear span to depth a/d ratios. It has been shown by the results that the assumption of summing the individual contribution of steel and concrete for the shear strength of reinforced beams is not proved.