CE F311 Design of Concrete Structures

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

Course Lecture-V

BITS Pilani
Hyderabad Campus

Limit State of Collapse-Shear

Introduction
According to traditional design philosophy, bending moment and shear
force are treated separately, even though they coexist.
It is important to realize that shear analysis and design are not really
concerned with shear as such. The shear stresses in most beams may be
below the direct shear strength of concrete.
Shear failure is often termed as diagonal tension failure.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Introduction(Cont..)
In the sectional design model, the flexural longitudinal reinforcement is
designed for the effects of flexure and any additional axial force, and the
transverse reinforcement is designed for shear and torsion.

In the case of slabs, this type of shear is called one-way shear, which is
different from the two-way or punching shear, which normally occurs in flat
slabs near the slab-column junctions.
The main objective of an RC designer is to produce ductile behaviour in the
members such that ample warning is provided before failure. For this, RC
beams are often provided with shear reinforcement.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of RC Beams under Shear

The behaviour of RC beams under shear may be categorized into the
following three types:
1. Behaviour when the beam is not cracked
2. Cracked beam behaviour when no shear reinforcements are provided
3. Cracked beam behaviour when shear reinforcements are provided

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Uncracked Beams

The loads acting on a structural element is in equilibrium with the reactions,

and the bending moment and shear force diagrams can be drawn for the
entire span as shown in Fig.1 (in the following slide).
Before cracking, the RC beam may be assumed to behave like a
homogenous beam.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 1 Shear force (S.F.) and bending moment (B.M.) diagrams for typical beam elements (a) Simply
supported beam with concentrated load (b) Cantilever beam (c) Simply supported beam with uniformly
distributed load (d) Continuous beam

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

 The bending and shear stress distributions across the cross section of
rectangular beam are shown in Fig. 2 (in the following slide).

It should be noted that the shear stress variation is parabolic, with the
maximum value at the neutral axis and zero values at the top and bottom
of the section. Thus, the maximum shear stress is 50 per cent more than
the average shear stress.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 2 Flexural and shear stress variation across the cross section
of a rectangular beam

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

 Neglecting any vertical normal stress caused by the surface loads, the
combined flexural and shear stresses can be resolved into equivalent
principal stresses acting on orthogonal planes and inclined at an angle a
to the beam axis, as shown in Figs. 3(a)(f).

The direction of the principal compressive stresses is in the shape of an

arch, whereas that of the principal tensile stresses is in the shape of a
catenary or suspended chain.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

 The maximum bending stresses occur at mid-span and the direction of

stresses tends to be parallel to the axis of the beam. Near the supports, the
shear forces have the greatest value and hence the principal stresses
become inclined; greater the shear force, greater the angle of inclination.

Since concrete is weak in tension, tension cracks as shown in Fig. 3(c) will
develop in a direction perpendicular to the principal tensile stresses. Thus,
the compressive stress trajectories indicate the potential crack pattern
(depending on the magnitude of tensile stresses developed).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 3 Stress distribution in RC beams (a) Beam with loading (b)(e) Stresses in
elements 1 and 2 (f) Principal stress distribution

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Cracking of Beams

Fig.4 Cracking of beams due to tensile stresses (a) Typical cracking

(b) Theoretical reinforcement required to resist such cracking

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Types of Cracks
1. Near the mid-span, where the bending moment predominates, the tensile
stress trajectories are crowded and are horizontal in direction as shown in
Fig. 3(f). Hence, flexural cracks perpendicular to the horizontal stress
trajectories will appear even at small loads. These flexural cracks are
controlled by the longitudinal tension bars.
2. In the zones where shear and bending effects combine together, that is, in
zones midway between the support and mid-span, the cracks may start
vertically at the bottom, but will become inclined as they approach the
neutral axis due to shear stress (see Fig. 5). These cracks are called
flexure shear cracks.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

3. Near the supports that contain concentrated compressive forces, the

stress trajectories have a complicated pattern. As shear forces are
predominant in this section, the stress trajectories are inclined (see Fig.
3f) and cracks inclined at about 45 appear in the mid-depth of the beam.
These cracks are termed as web-shear cracks or diagonal tension
cracks.
4. Sometimes, inclined cracks propagate along the longitudinal tension
reinforcement towards the support. Such cracks are termed as tensile
splitting cracks or secondary cracks.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 5 Typical crack pattern in an RC beam

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Behaviour of Beams without Shear Reinforcement

The behaviour of beams failing in shear may vary widely, depending on
the av/d ratio (shear span to effective depth ratio) and the amount of web
reinforcement (see Fig. 6 in the following slide).
Very short shear spans, with av/d ranging from zero to one, develop
inclined cracks joining the load and the support. These cracks, in effect,
change the behaviour from beam action to arch action (see Fig. 7).
Such beams with the a/d ratio of zero to one are termed as deep beams.
These beams normally fail due to the anchorage (bond) failure* at the
ends of the tension tie.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 6 Effect of a/d ratio on shear strength of beams without stirrups (a) Beam, shear force, and
moment diagrams (b) Variation in shear capacity with a/d for rectangular beams

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Modes of Failure in Deep Beams

Fig. 7 Modes of failure of deep beams (a) Arch action (b) Types of failures

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

 Beams with a/d ranging from 1 to 2.5 develop inclined cracks and carry
some additional loads due to arch action. These beams may fail by
splitting failure, bond failure, shear tension, or shear compression failure.
For slender shear spans, having av/d ratio in the range of 2.5 to 6, When
the load is applied and gradually increased, flexural cracks appear in the
mid-span of the beams. With further increase of load, inclined shear
cracks develop in the beams which are sometimes called primary shear
cracks.
Very slender beams, with a/d ratio greater than 6, will fail in flexure prior to
the formation of inclined cracks.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 8 Behaviour of beam without shear reinforcement (a) Typical crack pattern (b) Typical failure of
beam without shear reinforcement (c) Shear compression failure
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Types of Shear or Web Reinforcements

Shear or web reinforcements, called stirrups, links, or studs, may be provided
to resist shear in several different ways such as the following:
1. Stirrups perpendicular to the longitudinal flexural (tension) reinforcement
of the member, normally vertical (Fig. 9a in the following slide).
2. Inclined stirrups making an angle of 45 or more with the longitudinal
flexural reinforcement of the member (Fig. 9b)

3. Bent-up longitudinal reinforcement, making an angle of 30 or more with

the longitudinal flexural reinforcement (Fig. 9c)

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

4. Welded wire mesh, which should not be used in potential plastic hinge
locations (Fig. 9d). They are used in small, lightly loaded members with
thin webs and in some precast beams
5. Spirals (Fig. 9e)
6. Combination of stirrups and bent-up longitudinal reinforcement (Fig. 9f)
7. Mechanically anchored bars (head studs) with end bearing plates or a
head having an area of at least 10 times the cross-sectional area of bars
8. Diagonally reinforced members
9. Steel fibres in potential plastic hinge locations of members
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Types of Shear or Web Reinforcements

Fig. 9 Types and arrangement of stirrups (a) Vertical stirrups (b) Inclined stirrups
(c) Longitudinal bent bars (d) Welded wire fabric (e) Spirals (f) Combined bent bars and vertical
stirrups
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Vertical Stirrups
The transverse reinforcement in the form of shear stirrups will usually be
vertical and taken
around the outermost tension and compression
longitudinal reinforcements along the faces of the beam, as shown in Fig.
10. In T- and I-beams, they should pass around the longitudinal bars located
close to the outer face of the web.

The most common types are shown in Figs 10(a)(e). The stirrup
arrangements shown in Figs 10(a)(e) are not closed at the top and hence
their placement at site is relatively easy compared to the closed stirrups.
However, they should be used in beams with negligible torsional moment.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

 Closed stirrups, which are suitable for beams with significant torsion and in
earthquake zones, are shown in Figs 10(f)(k).
The vertical hoop is a closed stirrup having a 135 hook with a 610
diameter extension at each end that is embedded in the confined core (see
Figs 10f and j).
It can also be made of two pieces of reinforcement as shown in Fig. 10(g)
with a U-stirrup having a 135 hook and a 10 diameter extension at each
end, embedded in concrete core and a cross-tie. It is also possible to have
the cross-tie with a 135 hook at one end and 90 hook at the other end for
easy fabrication, as shown in Figs 10(h) and (k). The hooks engage
peripheral longitudinal bars.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig 10 Types of vertical stirrups (a)(e) Open stirrups for beams with negligible torsion
(f)(i) Closed stirrups with significant torsion (j)(k) Detail of 135 hook
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Factors Affecting Shear Strength of Concrete

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Tensile strength of concrete: The inclined cracking load in shear is a function of

the tensile strength of concrete.
Longitudinal reinforcement ratio: The shear strength of the RC beams is found
to drop significantly if the longitudinal reinforcement ratio is decreased below 1.2
1.5 per cent.
Shear span to effective depth ratio: Its effect is pronounced when av /d is less
than two and has no effect when it is greater than six.
Lightweight aggregate concrete: They reduce tensile strength than concrete
with normal aggregates.
Size of beam: As the depth of the beam increases, the shear stress at failure
decreases.
Axial forces : Axial tension decreases the inclined cracking load and the shear
strength of concrete, whereas axial compression does just the opposite.
Size of coarse aggregate: Increasing the size of coarse aggregates increases the
roughness of the crack surfaces, thus allowing higher shear stresses to be
transferred across the cracks.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Design Shear Strength of Concrete in Beams

Maximum Shear Stress: The shear strength of beams cannot be increased
beyond a certain limit, even with the addition of closely spaced shear
reinforcement because large shear forces in the beam will result in
compressive stresses that may cause crushing of web concrete.

Effects Due to Loading Condition: The shear strength of beams, either

slender or deep, under the uniform load is much higher than that of beams
under a loading arrangement of two concentrated loads at quarter points or
one concentrated load at mid-span. In this case, the splitting failure occurs
near the support reaction and not near a concentrated load.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Critical Section for Shear

Before designing the beam for shear, the critical section for shear should first be
located.
The maximum shear force in a beam usually occurs at the face of the support and
reduces progressively away from the support.
When there are concentrated loads, shear force remains high in the span between
the support and the first concentrated load (Figs 16af).

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Clause 22.2 of IS 456 allows a section located at a distance d (effective depth) from
the face of the support to be treated as a critical section in the following cases (see
Figs 16ac):
1. Support reaction, in the direction of applied shear force, introduces
compression into the end regions of the member.
2. Loads are applied at or near the top of the member.
3. No concentrated load occurs between the face of the support and the location
of the critical section, which is at a distance d from the face of the support.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

This clause cannot be applied in the following situations:

1. Beams framing into a supporting member in tension (see Fig. 16d)
2. Beams loaded near the bottom, as in the case of inverted beam (see Fig. 16e)
3. Concentrated load introduced within a distance 2d from the face of the support,
as in the beam on the left side of Fig. 16(b). In this case, closely spaced
stirrups should be designed and provided in the region between the support
and the concentrated load.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Fig. 16 Critical sections for shear near support (a)(c) Critical section at a distance d from
the face of the support (d)(f) Critical section at the face of the support
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Design Procedure for Shear Reinforcement

The design of an RC beam for shear using vertical stirrups involves the following steps:
1. Determine the maximum factored shear force Vu at the critical sections of the
member
2. Check the adequacy of the section for shear. Compute the nominal shear stress
and check whether it is less than the maximum permissible shear stress. If it is
greater than the maximum permissible shear stress, increase the size of the section
or the grade of concrete and recalculate steps 1 and 2.
3. Determine the shear strength provided by the concrete (for the percentage of
tensile reinforcement available at the critical section) Vc.
4. If Vu > Vc, shear reinforcements have to be provided for Vus = Vu Vc.
5. Compute the distance from the support beyond which only minimum shear
reinforcement is required.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

6. Design of stirrups: Where stirrups are required, it is usually advantageous to

select a bar size and type and determine the required spacing. The spacing for
vertical stirrups is calculated as:

In regions where only minimum stirrups are required, it is:

7. Check anchorage requirements and details.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Shear Design of Flanged Beams

The behaviour and cracking pattern of T-beams under two-point loading or
one-point loading in the middle of the beam are similar to that of rectangular
beams.

An increase in the shear capacity results from an increase of the crosssectional area of the compressive zone of a beam. It has been found that
the shear capacity of T-beams is 3040 per cent higher than the shear
strength of their web. This increased strength is due to the size of the
flanges, an increase in the tensile strength of concrete, and the neutral axis
depth.

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Enhanced Shear Strength near Supports

It has been observed from tests that shear failure at sections of beams and
cantilevers without shear reinforcement occurs at a plane inclined at an angle 30 as
shown in Fig. 6.17a (in the following slide).
When the failure plane is inclined more steeply than this, the shear force required to
produce the failure is increased (see Fig. 6.17b in the following slide).

Fig. 6.17 Enhanced shear strength (a) Steep failure plane (b) Influence of shear span to depth ratio
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

A good design is one in which shear failure is eliminated & the flexure governs the
design .
Hence, reducing the shear reinforcement near the supports and increasing the
vulnerability to shear failure, is not advisable, especially in seismic zones.
The reduction in the quantity of shear reinforcement achieved through clause 40.5 of
IS 456 is marginal and hence it is better to ignore it.

Such enhancement of shear strength near a support is taken into account by

increasing the design shear strength of concrete to (2dc/av) provided that the design
shear stress at the face of the support remains less than the value of cmax given in
(Table 20 of IS 456). In the above expression of the enhanced shear strength
d = effective depth of the beam,
c = design shear strength of concrete before the enhancement as given in Table 6.1
(Table 19 of IS 456),
av = horizontal distance of the section from the face of the support
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

Curtailment of Tension Reinforcement in Flexural Members

(cl. 26.2.3.2 of IS 456)
Curtailment of tension reinforcement is done to provide the required reduced area of
steel with the reduction of the bending moment. However, shear force increases with
the reduction of bending moment. Therefore, it is necessary to satisfy any one of
following three conditions while terminating the flexural reinforcement in tension zone:
(i) The shear stress v at the cut-off point should not exceed two-thirds of the permitted
value which includes the shear strength of the web reinforcement. Accordingly,

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

(ii) For each of the terminated bars, additional stirrup area should be provided over a
distance of three-fourth of effective depth from the cut-off point. The additional stirrup
area shall not be less than 0.4 b s/fy, where b is the breadth of rectangular beams and
is replaced by bw, the breadth of the web for flanged beams, s = spacing of additional
stirrups and fy is the characteristic strength of stirrup reinforcement in N/mm2. The
value of s shall not exceed d/(8 b), where b is the ratio of area of bars cut-off to the
total area of bars at that section, and d is the effective depth.

(iii) For bars of diameters 36 mm and smaller, the continuing bars provide double the
area required for flexure at the cut-off point. The shear stress should not exceed threefourths that permitted. Accordingly,

In the above expression b is the breadth of the rectangular beams which will be bw in
the case of flanged beams.
Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

References
Reinforced Concrete Design- Krishna Raju
Reinforced Concrete Design- Pillai and Menon
IS 456:2000
Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures-N Subramanian

IIT Madras Reading Material for RCC and Concrete

Instructor: Mr. J S Kalyana Rama

BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus

BITS Pilani
Hyderabad Campus

THANK YOU!