FATIGUE TESTS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE DEEP BEAMS

This paper presents an experimental investigation involving 12 reinforced concrete deep beams tested under fatigue loading. Three different types of web reinforcement were investigated, and the tests revealed that web reinforcement has significant influence on the structural response of deep beams under fatigue loading. With load repetitions, the midspan deflection and the maximum crack width increased, while the shear strength decreased. Comparison with the current CIRIA guide design procedure for deep beams shows that the CIRIA guide may be safe for up to a certain range of load repetitions. (A)