Abstract:
A total of ten brick aggregate reinforced concrete beamsin
two series have been tested in this study in order to investigate
the effect of span/depth ratio and variation of web
reinforcement on the stress distribution in deep beams and also
on the shear strength of such beams. The deep beams were subjected
to uniformly distributed loading. The first beam of each
series was designed and detailed as per the recommendations
of ACI Building Code (ACI-318-77). In the other four beams of
each of the series, the amount of both vertical and horizontal
web reinforcements were either increased or decreased in relation
to those of first beam of the corresponding series. Results are
presented in tabular and graphical form.
It is observed in the study that amount of web reinforcements
influences to some extent both the diagonal cracking load
and the ultimate shear capacity of deep beams. It is also found
that for-such beams the available theories,--for-stresscomputation=--_cc.,.,-
do not predict the stress in concrete, in flexural steel and in
web reinforcement properly. -Regarding the prediction of ultimate
load capacity of deep beams, it is found that some of the available
methods including the recommendations of the ACI code are conservative,
whereas the others are unconservative.
Some tentative suggestions regarding modifications of the
aforementioned available methodsfor estimation of ultimate load
capacity of deep beams are presented in this thesis. It is expected
that these suggestions will help any future attempt to adapt the
ACI Code provisions regarding deep beams when such beams are made
from brick aggregate concrete.
