Evaluating planner hoop steel plates as web reinforcement for deep reinforced concrete beams

Abstract

An experimental attempt was conducted in this paper, aiming at enhancing the shear and flexural behaviors of deep beams, where steel plates were applied as web reinforcement. Three beams having the same details were prepared using normal concrete strength. Their dimensions were 1250 mm long, 300 mm deep, and 150 mm wide. The specimens were designed to fail in shear, and therefore, they were supplied with two bars with a 20 mm diameter in addition to the top and skin reinforcement. For web reinforcement, the steel plates were cut in dimensions of 4×20 mm and then were applied as closed rectangular stirrups with the longer side (20 mm) aligned in the plane of the beam section. The beams were inspected by applying four-point bending with three shear span to the effective depth ratios (a/d) of 0.75, 1.25 and 1.75. The experimental outcomes revealed that the shear strength, stiffness, and toughness of deep beams enhanced as the a/d ratio dropped.