Optimal efficiency factor in strut-and-tie model for FRP-reinforced concrete short beams with (1.5 < a/d < 2.5)

Abstract

A new model for the efficiency factor of the concrete strut in the strut-and-tie model is proposed in this study for FRP-reinforced concrete short beams with (1.5 < a/d < 2.5). The ultimate load capacity of tested FRP-reinforced short beams was evaluated using the proposed model along with other models for the efficiency factor used in strut-and-tie models of design codes such as the ACI, CSA, and AS3600. It was found that efficiency factor models used in existing reinforced concrete design codes do not predict the ultimate load capacity of FRP-reinforced short beams as accurately as they do for steel-reinforced short beams. This can be attributed to not accounting for the effect of the shear span to effective depth ratio, a/d and the axial stiffness of the flexural reinforcement on the efficiency factor of the concrete strut in reinforced concrete short beams. Ultimate shear load capacity predictions by the proposed model were in agreement with experimental data obtained on 15 GFRP and CFRP-reinforced concrete short beams tested in the laboratory. The proposed model for the efficiency factor was shown to be statistically more accurate yielding the lowest standard deviation and coefficient of variation compared to those of the ACI, AS3600, and CSA A23.3 models. It was also found that shear equations recommended for FRP-RC beams by design guidelines such as the CSA S806-02, ISIS, JSCE, and ISE render very conservative predictions of the ultimate load capacity of FRP-reinforced short beams.