Influence of Loading Rate on Shear Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Beams

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the dynamic shear failure behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beams under rapid loading through an experimental study and set up a strut-and-tie model with loading rate effects to predict the dynamic shear capacity of RC beams. Thus, rapid loading test for 48 RC beams was performed, in which shear span-to-depth ratio, shear reinforcement ratio and loading rate were variable. The RC beams exhibited diagonal tension failure, shear compression failure and flexural failure depending on the shear span-to-depth ratio and the shear reinforcement ratio. The influence of loading rate on the maximum resistance is more significant for the RC beams failed in shear than for those failed in flexure. The strut-and-tie model with loading rate effects was developed, in which the thickness of the compression strut was formulated to be increased with an increase in loading rate. The developed strut-and-tie model was in good agreement with the experimental results.