NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

STRUCTURAL DESIGN 1 (REINFORCED CONCRETE)

SHEAR DESIGN OF BEAMS

INTRODUCTION
Beams must also have an adequate safety margin against other types of failure, some of which
may be more dangerous than flexural failure. This may be so because of greater uncertainty in
predicting certain other modes of collapse, or because of the catastrophic nature of some other types
of failure, should they occur. Shear failure of reinforced concrete, more properly called diagonal
tension failure, is one example. Shear failure is difficult to predict accurately. If a beam without
properly designed shear reinforcement is overloaded to failure, shear collapse is likely to occur
suddenly, with no advance warning of distress. This is in strong contrast with the nature of flexural
failure. For typically underreinforced beams, flexural failure is initiated by gradual yielding of the
tension steel, accompanied by obvious cracking of the concrete and large deflections, giving ample
warning and providing the opportunity to take corrective measures. Because of these differences in
behavior, reinforced concrete beams are generally provided with special shear reinforcement to
ensure that flexural failure would occur before shear failure if the member were severely overloaded.
In shear analysis and design, we are not really concern on shear because shear stresses in
most beams are far below the direct shear strength of the concrete. We are more concerned on the
diagonal tension stress, which is a direct result of the combination of shear stress and longitudinal
flexural stress. In this module we will be dealing the analysis and design using the provision in NSCP
2015.
SHEAR STRESS IN CONCRETE BEAMS
In strength of materials, you have previously learned that in elastic homogeneous beams,
where stresses are proportional to strains, two kinds of stresses occur (bending and shear), and
they can be calculated with the following expressions:
!"
𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 → 𝑣= #$
%&
𝐵𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 → 𝑓= #

SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE

A great deal of research has been done on the subject of shear and diagonal tension for
nonhomogeneous reinforced concrete beams, and many theories have been developed. Despite all
this work and all the resulting theories, no one has been able to provide a clear explanation of the
failure mechanism involved. As a result, design procedures are based primarily on test data.
If 𝑉' is divided by the effective beam area, 𝑏( 𝑑, the result is what is called an average shearing
stress. This stress is not equal to the diagonal tension stress but merely serves as an indicator of its
magnitude. Should this indicator exceed a certain value, shear or web reinforcing is considered
necessary. In the ACI Code, the basic shear equations are presented in terms of shear forces, not shear
stresses.
For this discussion, 𝑉) is considered to be the nominal or theoretical shear strength of a
member. This strength is provided by the concrete and by the shear reinforcement.
𝑉) = 𝑉* + 𝑉+
The design shear strength of a member, ∅𝑉𝑛 must at least equal the factored shear force to be
taken, 𝑉'
∅𝑉𝑛 ≥ 𝑉𝑢
where
𝑉' = factored shear forced at a critical distance d from the face of support
𝑉) = nominal shear strength of the section
𝑉* = shear strength provided by the concrete
𝑉+ = shear strength provided by shear reinforcements/stirrups

1 | CE 422
WEB REINFORCEMENTS
When the factored shear, 𝑉' , is high, it shows that large cracks are going to occur unless some
type of additional reinforcing is provided. This reinforcing usually takes the form of stirrups that
enclose the longitudinal reinforcing along the faces of the beam. Below are the common stirrups that
are used in reinforced concrete.

Figure 1.a: Open stirrups for beams with negligible torsion

Figure 1.b: Closed stirrups for beams with significant torsion

CODE PROVISION FOR SHEAR DESIGN
According to NSCP 2015, the design of beams for shear is to be based on the relation
𝑉' ≤ ∅𝑉)
The strength reduction factor 𝜙 is to be taken equal to 0.75 for shear.
CRITICAL LOCATION FOR SHEAR DESIGN
a. End-supported beam
b. Beam supported by columns
c. Concentrated load within d of the face of the support
d. Member loaded near the bottom
e. Beam supported by girder of similar depth
f. Beam supported by monolithic vertical element
 Figure 2: Location of critical section for shear design
CALCULATION OF SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY THE CONCRETE (𝑽𝒄 )
A. When the member is subjected to shear and flexure
a) Simplified calculation

𝐕𝐜 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟕𝛌z𝐟𝐜. 𝐛𝐰 𝐝
Modification factors (𝛌)
λ=0.85 for sand-lightweight concrete
λ=0.75 for all lightweight concrete
λ=1 for normal weight concrete
0#!" .
λ= ≤ 1.0 for average splitting tensile strength of lightweight concrete f67
1.3450#$

V8 = shear strength provided by the concrete

b9 = width of the beam
d= effective depth of the beam
b) Detailed calculation
Least of the following:
𝐕𝐮 𝐝
𝐕𝐜 = €𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝛌z𝐟𝐜. + 𝟏𝟕𝛒𝐰 „𝐛 𝐝
𝐌𝐮 𝐰

𝐕𝐜 = …𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝛌z𝐟𝐜. + 𝟏𝟕𝛒𝐰 † 𝐛𝐰 𝐝

𝐕𝐜 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗z𝐟𝐜. 𝐛𝐰 𝐝
Where
;% <
≤ 1.0
=%
V> =factored shear at critical distance from the face of support
M> = simultaneous factored moment at critical section for Vu
A6
ρ9 =
bd
B. Members subjected to axial compression

a) Simplified calculation
𝐍𝐮
𝐕𝐜 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟕 Š𝟏 + Ž 𝛌z𝐟𝐜. 𝐛𝐰 𝐝
𝟏𝟒𝐀𝐠
N> = axial compressive force in N
A@ = gross cross-sectional area of concrete section
b) Detailed calculation

𝐕𝐮 𝐝
𝐕𝐜 = €𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝛌z𝐟𝐜. + 𝟏𝟕𝛒𝐰 „𝐛 𝐝
𝐌𝐦 𝐰
4h − d
MB = M> − N> • ’≤0
8
MB = modified moment in kN-m
N> = axial compressive force in kN
h=total depth of the beam
d = effective depth of the beam
V8 shall not be greater than:

0.29
V8 = 0.29 ”•1 + – λz𝐟𝐜. b9 d
N> A@
When MB as computed from the formula is negative
𝟒𝐡E𝐝 𝟐𝟗𝐍𝐮
𝐌𝐦 = 𝐌𝐮 − 𝐍𝐮 … 𝟖
†→ Negative → Use 𝐕𝐜 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗 €—𝟏 + 𝟎. 𝐀𝐠
„ 𝛌z𝐟𝐜. 𝐛𝐰 𝐝

C. Members subjected to axial tension

Nu
V8 = 0.17 €1 + „ λzf8. b9 d ≥ 0
3.5Ag
N> = axial compressive force in N (negative for tension)
A@ = gross cross-sectional area of concrete section

CALCULATION OF SHEAR STRENGTH PROVIDED BY SHEAR REINFORCEMENTS (𝐕𝐬 )

A. Shear reinforcement is perpendicular to the axis of the member is used
𝐀𝐯 𝐟𝐲𝐭 𝐝
𝐕𝐬 =
𝐬

Where
V6 = shear capacity of stirrups
s = spacing of shear reinforcement
fP7 = yield strength of shear reinforcements
d = effective depth of beam
AQ = area of shear reinforcement
B. Shear reinforcements is inclined

𝐀𝐯 𝐟𝐲𝐭 𝐝
𝐕𝐬 = (𝐬𝐢𝐧 ∝ +𝐜𝐨𝐬 ∝)
𝐬
Where
∝= angle between inclined stirrups and longitudinal bars

MINIMUM AREA OF SHEAR REINFORCEMENTS

Minimum area of shear reinforcements shall be provided in all reinforced concrete flexural
members (prestressed and non-prestressed) where V> exceeds ∅V8
𝟎. 𝟎𝟔𝟐z𝐟𝐜. 𝐛𝐰 𝐒 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝐛𝐰 𝐒
𝐀𝐯(𝐦𝐢𝐧) = ≤
𝐟𝐲𝐭 𝐟𝐲𝐭
REGION WHERE WEB REINFORCEMENT IS REQUIRED

If the required shear strength (V> ) is greater than the shear strength (∅V8 ) provided by the
concrete in any portion of the beam, web reinforcement is required
SPACING LIMITS FOR SHEAR REINFORCEMENTS

EXAMPLE 1
A simply supported rectangular beam 400 mm wide having an effective depth of 550 mm carries a
total factored load of 137 kN/m on a 6m span. It is reinforced with 4914 mmV of tensile steel. If
f8. =28 MPa and fP =414 MPa.
1. What part of the beam is web reinforcement required?
2. What is the spacing of the web reinforcement at critical section?

Solution:
FBD
 1. Part of the beam where web reinforcement required
∅;$
V> ≤ V
→ Web reinforcement is not required
∅;$
When the shear force is equal to , that’s where web reinforcement is required from the
V
face of the beam.
V8 = 0.17λzf8. b9 d = 0.17 × 1.0 × √28 × 400 × 550 × 10EX = 197.90 kN
∅V8 197.90
= 0.75 • ’ = 74.20 kN
2 2
∅V8
= R − w(x) → 74.20 = 411 − 137(x) → 𝐱 = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟔 𝐦
2
Web reinforcement is needed from the support up to a distance 2.46 m from it.
2. Spacing of the web reinforcement at critical section
Critical Vu
V> = R − w(d) = 411 − 137(0.55) = 335.65 kN
V> = ∅VY = ∅(V8 + V6 )
If V> > ∅V8 , web reinforcement is required
Spacing of web reinforcement
AQ fP7 d π
s= → Av = 2 × πZ (d6 )2 = 2 × × 102 = 157.10 mmV
V6 4
V> 335.65
V6 = − V8 = − 197.90 = 249.60 kN
∅ 0.75
[3\.[1×Z[Z×331
s= VZ^.41×[1(
= 𝟏𝟒𝟑. 𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐦
Check spacing limits
0.33zf8. b9 d = 0.33 × √28 × 440 × 550 × 10EX = 422.60 kN

V6 < 0.33zf8. b9 d
d
sB_` = or 600 mm s < sB_` OK
2

EXAMPLE 2
A rectangular beam has a clear span of 7.6 m and carries a service live load of 60 kN/m. The beam
has a width of 350 mm and effective depth of 700 mm. It is reinforced with 6-28mm ∅ in two rows.
Total depth of the beam is 800 mm. f’8 = 28 MPa, fP = 414 MPa, fP7 = 270 MPa. Use 𝜆=0.85 and
unit weight of concrete is 25 kN/m3. Use detailed calculation for shear strength provided by the
concrete.
a) Determine the shear force to be resisted by the shear reinforcement at critical section.
b) Determine the spacing of shear reinforcements at critical section.
c) Determine the point where no shear reinforcement is needed.
Solution:

a) Shear force to be resisted by the shear reinforcement

Total uniform load to be carried by the beam
w> = 1.2DL + 1.6LL
DL = 24 × .35 × .80 = 6.72 kN/m
w> = 1.2(6.72) + 1.6(60) = 104.06 kN/m
w> L 104.06(7.6)
R[ = R V = = = 395.43 kN
2 2
The shear and moment function at x distance from the support is:
V = R[ − w> (x)
w> (x V )
M = R[ x −
2
At critical section at x = d =0.70 m
V=395.43−104.06(0.70) = 322.60 kN
[1Z.14a1.\1) b
M = 395.43(0.70) − = 251.30 kN − m
V

Shear strength provided by the concrete

V> d
V8 = €0.16λzf8. + 17ρ9 „ b d ≤ 0.29zf8. b9 d
M> 9
V> d 322.60(0.70)
≤ 1.0 → = 0.90 < 1.0 ∴ OK!
M> 251.30
*
4c daVe) b
+
ρ9 = X31(\11)
= 0.0151

V8 = ²0.16 × 0.85√28 + 17(0.0151)(0.90)³(350)(700 × 10EX ) = 232.90 kN

0.29zf8. b9 d = 0.29√28 (350)(700 × 10EX ) = 376 kN > 232.90 kN ∴ OK!

𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐕𝐜 = 𝟐𝟑𝟐. 𝟗𝟎 𝐤𝐍
V> 322.60
V6 = − V8 = − 232.90
∅ 0.75
 𝐕𝐬 = 𝟏𝟗𝟕. 𝟐𝟎 𝐤𝐍
b) Spacing of shear reinforcements at critical section.
π
AQ = 2 … † (10V ) = 157.10 mmV
4
AQ fP7 d 157.10(270)(700)
s= = = 𝟏𝟓𝟎. 𝟔 𝐦𝐦 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟓𝟎 𝐦𝐦
V6 186,200

c) Point where no shear reinforcement is needed

[
When V> ≤ V ∅V8 , shear reinforcement is not required.
[
From the shear function, let V = V ∅V8 and the distance from the face of support will be taken
as “z”.
V = R[ − w> (z)
1
∅V = R[ − w> (z)
2 8
1
(0.75)(243.90) = 395.43 − 104.06(z)
2
𝐳 = 𝟐. 𝟗𝟐 𝐦