Author(s)

J. K. Lu, S. Y. Kuo, J. Y. Lin & S. H. Hsu

Abstract

A shear strength model for reinforced concrete corbels is developed by modifying the softened strut-and-tie model. Using the concept of Lu and Wu, the constitutive equation is developed. Then, the constitutive equation is combined with the equilibrium equations of Hwang and Lee. The model is used to predict the shear strength of reinforced concrete corbels. The results of the model are compared with the experimental data and the results of ACI code. Keywords: softened strut-and-tie model, reinforced concrete corbels, shear strength. 1 Introduction Corbels are cantilevers having shear span-to-depth ratios not greater than unity, which tend to control by shear as a deep beam, rather than flexural members. Reinforced concrete corbels are becoming a common feature in building construction. Simple design procedures to produce safe and economic corbels are therefore required. Much research is carried into investigation about the shear strength of corbels. In test, the most common modes of failure of corbels are crushing or splitting of the compression strut. ACI 318-95 [3] used the shear-friction method to calculate the shear capacities of corbels. It is shown that most of the shear capacities of corbels calculated by ACI code are underestimated [4–6]. ACI 318-02 [7] provides the strut-and-tie model as an alternate method to

Keywords

softened strut-and-tie model, reinforced concrete corbels, shear strength.