Empirical equation and experimental validation of shear parameters for high strength concrete (HSC)

Abstract

With many benefits of the high strength concrete (HSC) the more brittle behaviour that leads to sudden failure makes it important for proper understanding of its behaviour and safe and efficient estimation of capacities. Research on the behaviour of HSC has been extensively carried out since last decade. HSC has higher tensile strength hence a higher cracking shear can be expected. This paper analyzes the different international standards available for estimating concrete’s component of shear strength for reinforced cement concrete (RCC) beam. Different important factors mainly strength in compression, steel reinforcement (dowel action), ratio of shear span and depth, size effect i.e. depth along with the aggregate type (density of concrete) contributing to shear stress (Tc) of concrete has been also analyzed and thereafter, an equation has been proposed to compute or predict Tc value for concrete of both normal and higher grade or strength. The proposed equation has been validated by experimental results wherein 12 RCC beams (with and without reinforcement for shear) were cast and tested to fail in shear. The experimental results validated the proposed equation with considerable factor of safety keeping in view the sudden and brittle nature of failure in concrete in case of shear.