Shear Failure of Reinforced Concrete Beams

AN EXTENSIVE TEST PROGRAM FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF THE SHEAR RESISTANCE OF REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS WAS CARRIED OUT. SIXTY-THREE T, I, AND RECTANGULAR BEAMS WITH VARYING CROSS SECTION, WEB REINFORCEMENT, LONGITUDINAL REINFORCEMENT, CONCRETE STRENGTH, AND SHEAR SPAN WERE TESTED. STUDY OF THESE AND OTHER RESULTS LEAD TO THE CLASSIFICATION OF SHEAR FAILURES INTO FOUR BASIC MODES. THESE MODES ARE DESCRIBED AND EQUATIONS DEVELOPED FOR THE CALCULATION OF COLLAPSE LOADS FOR FAILURES BY DIAGONAL TENSION, SHEARING, SHEAR COMPRESSION, AND WEB CRUSHING. THE ULTIMATE LOAD IN A GIVEN CASE IS INTRINSIC TO THE FAILURE MODE CORRESPONDING TO THE LEAST STRENGHT AFTER DIAGONAL CRACKING. A FORMULA FOR CALCULATING SHEAR CRACK WIDTHS IS PRESENTED. /AUTHOR/