Investigation of minimum shear strength of reinforced concrete elements without transverse reinforcement

Abstract

The paucity of experimental research and several incongruences in boundary conditions of actual sectional design procedures of empirical nature may raise doubts about the validity of the minimum value for the shear strength of reinforced concrete members in Eurocode 2 (EC-2). Although a minimum reinforcement due to bending is supposed before shear strength checking, EC-2 Commentary gives an explanation about a conservative value for a minimum on the basis of the tensile strength of the concrete. This manuscript highlights the gaps in the state of present knowledge and incorporates a new proposal.