SHEAR IN BEAMS

When the beam is loaded, it resists loads primarily by

means of internal moments M and shears V. The beam
must be designed for both types of forces to carry the
loads safely. In the design of a reinforced concrete
member, flexure is usually considered first, leading to
the size of the section and the arrangement of
reinforcement to provide the necessary moment
resistance. Limits are placed on the amounts of flexural
reinforcement which can be used to ensure that if
failure was ever to occur, it would develop gradually,
giving warning to the occupants. The beam is then
proportioned for shear. Because a shear failure is
frequently sudden and brittle, as suggested by the
damage sustained by the building in the figure below,
the design for shear must ensure that the shear
strength equals or exceeds the flexural strength at all
points in the beam.
Without stirrup, there is nothing to stop the concrete from splitting due
to diagonal tension as in Figure (a). Stirrups prevent this occurrence
especially if they are closely spaced as in Figure (b).

TYPES OF SHEAR FAILURE

Shear failures on location of the load applied relative
to the nearest reaction known as the shear span. Shear
failure may be diagonal tension failure, shear
compression failure and splitting or true shear failure.

Shear failure of a reinforced concrete beam without shear

reinforcement: a) principal diagonal tension crack before the failure; b)
detail of the left support after failure
PROVISIONS FROM NSCP 2015 SHEAR

DESIGN STRENGTH

MINIMUM SHEAR REINFORCEMENT

TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT

FACTORED SHEAR (Vu)

MAXIMUM SPACING OF SHEAR
REINFORCEMENT

STRENGTH REDUCTION FACTORS

SHEAR

SHEAR STRENGTH OF CONCRETE (Vc)

SHEAR STRENGTH OF REINFORCEMENT

(Vs)
 CLOSED STIRRUPS FOR BEAMS WITH SIGNIFICANT
TORSION

TRANSVERSE REINFORCEMENT

TYPES OF STIRRUPS OTHER IMPORTANT CODES

MODIFICATION FACTOR
OPEN STIRRUPS FOR BEAMS WITH NEGLIGIBLE
TORSION
STEPS IN VERTICAL STIRRUP DESIGN If Av < Avmin increase diameter of stirrups, a. 40kN
1. Calculate the factored shear force Vu at critical increase legs of stirrups, or adjust spacing base b. 90kN
sections or at any section you want the spacing to on stirrups used. c. 300kN
be determined 4. A simply supported rectangular beam has a
clear span of 6m has a width of 400mm and has
2. Calculate the shear strength provided by concrete, PROBLEMS a depth of 700mm. The beam supports a total
Vc. Use simplified, detailed or both for the 1. The beam has a width of 280mm and an overall factored load of 168kN/m which includes the
calculation of Vc. depth of 600mm. Concrete cover is 60mm weight of the beam. f’c = 27.6MPa, fy =
𝟏 from the centroid of the bars. Concrete 415MPa. Use normal weight of concrete.
a. If Vu < ФVc, stirrups are not required
𝟐
compressive strength f’c = 21MPa and fy = Effective cover to be use is 75mm. Use
𝟏
b. If ФVc < Vu < ФVc, proceed to step 5 345MPa. Use 10mmØ vertical U stirrup with fyt simplified method.
𝟐
c. If Vu > ФVc, proceed to step 3 = 275Mpa. Determine the nominal shear a. Calculate the factored shear at the
strength provided by concrete using simplified critical section
3. Calculate the shear strength Vs to be provided by calculation. b. Find the nominal shear strength
the stirrup using the formula below: a. If the beam is subjected to shear and provided by concrete
Vu = Ф (Vc + Vs) flexure only c. Find the distance from the face of
a. If Vs ≤ 0.67√𝒇′𝒄 bw d, proceed to step 4 b. If the beam is subjected to axial supports where stirrups are no longer
compressive force of 80kN required
b. If Vs > 0.67√𝒇′𝒄 bw d, adjust the size of
c. If the beam is subjected to axial d. Using 10mmØ stirrups, design the
the beam
tension of 80Kn beam for shear
2. A concrete beam section with f’c = 25MPa is 5. A rectangular isolated beam has a clear span of
4. Calculate the required spacing of stirrups, s.
𝑨𝒗 𝒇𝒚𝒕 𝒅 250mm wide, 500mm deep has a 435mm 7.6m and carries a service live load of 60kN/m
s= and no external dead load except its own
𝑽𝒔 effective depth. It is reinforced with 1902mm2
of tension steel with fy = 275MPa. Using more weight. The beam has a width of 350mm. It is
5. Check for the maximum spacing allowed by the detailed calculations , determine the nominal reinforced with 6-28mmØ bars in two rows.
code. shear strength of concrete considering the Total depth of the beam is 800mm with clear
a. If Vs ≤ 0.33√𝑓′𝑐 bw d following cases: concrete cover of 50mm. f’c = 27.6MPa and fy
a. Vu = 270kN, Mu = 100kN-m = 414Mpa and fyt = 270MPa. Take note that
smax = d/2 or 600mm
b. Vu = 270KN, Mu = 100kN – m and axial the concrete used is sand lightweight concrete
b. If Vs > 0.33√𝑓′𝑐 bw d
compression Nu = 180kN having a unit weight of 2400kg/m3,
smax = d/4 or 300mm a. Using simplified calcu
1 c. Vu = 270KN, Mu = 100kN – m and axial
c. If ФVc < Vu < ФVc b. lations for shear strength of concrete,
2 tension Nu = 180kN
smax = d/2 or 600mm 3. A rectangular beam has the following determine the shear force to be
properties: bw = 300mm, d = 525mm, f’c = resisted by the shear at the critical
6. Check for Minimum area of stirrup, Avmin 21MPa, diameter of stirrup = 10mm. fyt = section from the face of support.
𝑏 𝑠 𝑏 𝑠 c. Determine the spacing of 10mmØ
Avmin = 0.062√𝑓′𝑐 𝑤 or 0.35 𝑤 whichever is 275MPa. Determine the required spacing of
𝑓𝑦𝑡 𝑓𝑦𝑡
vertical U – stirrup when the required shear shear reinforcements required by the
larger. beam due to its load
strength Vu is
 d. Determine the point where no shear
reinforcements are needed measured
from the center of the beam
e. Design the full length of beam
6. A simply supported rectangular beam 350mm
wide having an effective depth of 500mm
carries a total factored load of 125kN/m load
on a 7m clear span. It is reinforced with
6360mm2 of tensile steel which continuous
uninterrupted into the supports. If f’c =
20.1MPa and fyt = 276MPa. Using 10mmØ
stirrups, design the beam for shear using
detailed calculation.