An Indeterminate Strut-Tie Model and Load Distribution Ratio for Reinforced Concrete Corbels

Abstract

The ultimate behavior of reinforced concrete corbel is complicated due to the primary design variables including the shear span-to-effective depth ratio a/d, flexural reinforcement ratio, load condition, and material properties. In this study, a simple indeterminate strut-tie model reflecting all characteristics of the ultimate strength and complicated structural behavior is proposed for the design of the reinforced concrete corbels with shear span-to-effective depth ratio of a/d ≤ 1. A load distribution ratio, defined as the fraction of applied load transferred by horizontal truss mechanism, is also proposed to help structural designers perform the design of reinforced concrete corbels by using the strut-tie model approaches of current design codes. For the development of the load distribution ratio, numerous material nonlinear finite element analyses of the proposed indeterminate strut-tie model were conducted by changing primary design variables. The ultimate strengths of reinforced concrete corbels tested to failure were evaluated by incorporating the proposed strut-tie model and load distribution ratio into the ACI 318-11's strut-tie model method. The validity of the proposed model and load distribution ratio was examined by comparing the strength analysis results with those by the ACI 318-11's conventional design method and strut-tie model methods of current design codes.