A Study of the Structural Behavior of Recycled-Concrete Haunched Beams with Web Opening

Abstract

The structural behavior of Reinforced Concrete Haunched Beams (RCHBs) was investigated in this study. One prismatic control beam and fourteen Haunched Beams (HBs) were used in the experimental test and numerical analysis. The variables considered are Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) ratio which is taken as 0, 30 %, and 60 %, opening shape (square and circular with the same area of 4560 mm2), and haunch angle (α) of 6.34° and 9.46°. The samples of dimensions (1750x200x300) mm were tested under a two-point load. The samples were simulated numerically using the Abaqus/CAE tool. The experimental outcomes show that using 30% RCA decreased the resistance by 8.24% - 26.45% compared with the control sample. While at 60% RCA, the resistance decreased by 16.35% - 34.71%. HBs with α=6.34° give a strength quite close to the control beam (PN) by 1.93%, while α=9.46° decreases the strength by 12.94% compared with PN. Compared with the solid beam, square holes in HBs provide a strength reduction range of 5.83% - 18.79% for α=6.34° and α=9.46°, respectively. The beams with circular apertures have a resistance decrease of about 3.43% - 14.70%, which corresponds to α=6.34° and α=9.46°. The numerical findings were 8.41% of the experimental data.